I have bought a very low mileage b/top from a reputable focus breaker, my question is.. it arrived with all the belts off so is there an easy way to confirm TDC?

If you turn it over with no belt you will bend the valves.

I would take the cams out, rotate bottom end and set with timming pin. Install cams using the 5mm plate in the back of the cams.

cheers mate,
can anyone else add to this at all

Take the cams out, line the bottom pulley marks up with the line cast on the sump. Check TDC on No. 1 with a bit of bar or whatever.
Install the cams, loosen the pulleys with No1 on compression stroke lining up the grooves on the back with a 5mm flat bar. Install the belt, tension it, tighten the pulleys and turn the engine over 2 turns. Line the bottom pulley up again and ensure the 5mm flat bar fits the cams.
The grooves in the cams are offset so you cant put them in if they are wrong.

Good luck.

[Edited on 1/3/11 by coozer]

Seems strange to take the cam belts off so ship a second hand engine.

I was sure ? there are no cast marks on the black top sump ? There is a bolt infront of the vr sensor you take out to insert the timming pin.

Its not as hard as it sounds. A couple of hours work. A saturday morning job

No there are no timing marks on the black top, that's why they have locking pins and plates.
As above would be the best way buy. a belt kit with pulleys and a locking pin kit if you don't have one should take you about 1 tops if engines out!

Cheers to you all

U2U me your email if you want a PDF manual covering the procedure, its for a silvertop but the process is the same.

It is advisable to buy a locking pin/plate set, for a tenner it make life a whole lot easier.