95 4Runner SR5 185k.

I'm just about to put my newly machined heads back on the motor, but I want to finish cleaning up the remaining pistons (that are currently not at TDC). The manual I have says to rotate the crank until each piston reaches TDC, and when it does, clean it. This is not a problem, but I'm wondering if I have to rotate the crank a full 2 revolutions to bring it back to TDC of the compression stroke. This is what I'm assuming. Is this correct? Are there any other things that I have to do/take note of when rotating the crank without the heads on? What is really good for cleaning the carbon off these pistons?

Thanks in advance, Brian

 

TDC is not only the position of the #1 piston but more importantly its the relationship of the cams and distributor to the #1 piston. Just as long as #1 is at TDC you are fine just make sure the cams and dist go back in properly. The 2 rotations of the crank to one rotation of the cams thing only applies when you actually have cams and a dist in the motor with no cam or dist in the motor yet TDC is just TDC nothing more.

 

That's what I thought, just wanted to make sure. Thanks again!