To accurately set the piston of the 1st cylinder to the TDC position of the compression stroke, two special devices are required to fix the crankshaft and camshafts in a certain position.
You will need: special devices for fixing the crankshaft and camshafts, a 10 mm socket wrench, 8 mm and 13 mm open-end wrenches or socket heads, and an 18 mm wrench.
1. Remove the air conditioning compressor drive belt (see "Replacement of auxiliary drive belt").
2. Remove the generator (see "Removal and installation the generator").
3. Remove the expansion tank (see "Removal and installation the expansion tank").
4. Place a secure support under the engine.
5. Remove the right front powertrain suspension support (see "Replacing the right powertrain suspension support").
6. Remove the water pump pulley by unscrewing the four bolts that secure it (see "Replacing the timing belt and its tension roller").
7. Unscrew the three mounting bolts and remove the right powertrain suspension support bracket.
8. Remove the front timing belt cover by unscrewing the eight bolts that secure it (see "Replacing the timing belt and its tension roller").
9. Shift the transmission into neutral.
10. Unscrew the plug located at the front of the cylinder block on the right (see "Replacing the timing belt and its tension roller"), and install the locking rod into the opened hole until it stops against the crankshaft. Carefully turn the crankshaft by the bolt securing its pulley until the shaft stops with the locking rod.
Note: The locking rod is a cylindrical part about 65 mm long (stepped by diameters). The 10 mm long part of the rod with a small diameter (4 mm) is a shank that enters the groove of the crankshaft. The remaining cylindrical part with a larger diameter (8 mm) serves as a guide in the cylinder block hole.
11. Install the locking plate into the special grooves at the rear of the camshafts. If the device can be installed without difficulty, the timing belt is installed correctly, the piston of the 1st cylinder is at TDC of the compression stroke and the initial setting of the valve timing corresponds to the norm. If the device cannot be installed (the valve timing is shifted), remove the timing belt, install the locking device and put the belt on correctly (see Fig. "Replacing the timing belt and its tension roller").
12. Install the removed parts in the reverse order of removal.
(The article was taken in its entirety from the specified website fordbook)