My car back fires through the TB when i give it gas and it runs like crap! I have a TDC tools but when i screw it in and make sure it is on the compression side the timing mark is way off! Since it is stock what should i do?

 

Who if anyone set the spark timing? In order to do that you need a timing light, and disconnect the tan wire thats near the AC to disable the ECM's spark advance.

 

i meant how to i get it on top dead center!

 

Might be the balancer has slipped. Where's your timing mark? It should be at about 2 o'clock, looking at the front of the engine. I've seen cars with the wrong timing covers swapped in before. You are trying to find TDC from the front driver side cylinder right?

If you have something to positively identify TDC, do that and mark zero on your balancer with chalk and use that to set the timing. If the balancer slipped... might be time for a new one.

 

well the balancer and engine are stock never touched. Did you ever use a top dead center tool? it seems after you take it out that you can go up some more. so that wouldn't be top dead center would it?

 

The tool locates dead center by stopping the piston before it reaches the top , turning the crank in the opposite direction stops it the same distance from the top, half way between the 2 stopping points on the balancer is DTC.