Wm, doing it the way you describe is a crap shoot. If the cam and crank are already out of time, he may spend the rest of his life trying to get the chain in place. There is only one relationship that works with TCE setups and both components have to be in synch. Too much risk of inadvertantly damaging a valve or piston crown. KISS principle applys here..

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Jeff Lawrence
1987 300e
1989 300e
2000 Dodge Grand Caravan SE