Eagle, the 2.3 isn't like the 5.0 and even the factory 5.0 timing chains don't have advance and retard keyways.
The marks in question are for the cam gear, the auxiliary shaft gear and the crank gear.
If you've got a 90 model or earlier with a distributor you'll have to line up all three. The 91 and later models have no distributor so on those you only have to line up the cam and the crank.
The cam gear mark is on the inner half of the plastic cover. If it hasn't been broken off. It's a little tab that points to the gear. With the belt off, line up the mark on the cam gear with that tab. The TDC mark for the crank is on the outer half. temporarily hang the outer half back on the motor then slip the crank hub back on the crank. You don't need to bolt either of them down, just get them to where you can eyeball the marks when they line up. Rotate the crank until the mark on the crank pulley lines up dead even with the 0 TDC mark on the cover. Here's where it helps to take a sharpie marker or something to make a reference line somewhere after you take the outer half off so you don't have to keep going back and forth with the cover. If you have a distributor, make a mark on the distributor housing where the number 1 spark plug wire is plugged into the distributor cap. Take the cap off. Rotate the auxiliary shaft pulley until the rotor lines up with your mark. If you don't have a distributor, don't worry about the aux. shaft. Now you can route the belt, release the tensioner and rotate the crank 2 complete revolutions and do a quick check of your marks. If all is good, button it back up and call it a day. If not, repeat the process and pay attention to where the slack is on the belt.
That's the best I can do off the top of my head. There's probably an easier way to do it, but this is how I do mine. |