Help confirming timing after installing head

[DeLorean]

True, although the chain links are off by one link when I can get it to mount. I'll give it another go and turn the cam, it must not be at TDC.

[NewZed]

TDC is where the piston sites.  The point of what you're doing is to get the camshaft in the right position to match the piston position.  That's why there are adjustment holes in the camshaft sprocket.  You should be thinking "all I need to do is rotate the camshaft slightly, with the piston at TDC, until the notch of the sprocket aligns with the groove on the retaining plate".  That's why all of those marks are put there by Nissan.  If you move everything slowly you could rotate the camshaft back and forth and until a valve touches a piston with no damage.  Just for fun.  There's room.

[Xnke]

Put the chain on the sprocket how you had it marked. Then rotate the cam until the dowel pin lines up in the hole marked #1.

 

It's that simple. That's it. Nothing to it.

 

Once you have the cam gear bolted up, THEN you can use the timing chain stretch indication marks (That's what the dash and the V are for) to verify that your timing chain is in the correct position, and that your timing is not retarded due to timing chain stretch. Only rotate the engine CLOCKWISE from the front of the crankshaft in order to check this.