I'm in the process of doing my head gasket at the moment and i went to turn the crankshaft pulley to top dead centre, but quickly realised that the timing mark is missing.

Sso how do i now find out where TDC is?

I saw the notch on the cam sprocket, but the manual said that that can be up to 3mm above the head at TDC, so if it can be anywhere in that range from 0-3mm, how do i know exactly where TDC is?

i doubt the timing mark is missing? maybe its very faint or hard to see but it would be there.

no the piece of metal that has the timing mark on it has snapped off, i found the lines along which it fractured

Ouch, any other damage to the timing cover?

Just ensure that the mark on the front of the EF is 0*, and not 10*BTDC. Ford varied their markings from EA-AU with changes to ign systems and timing covers. Can never go wrong with a screwdriver down #1 spark plug hole

if you are replacing the head gasket you have to take of the rocker cover. After you have taken off the rocker cover turn the crank pulley clockwise (when facing it) when both the intake and exhaust rockers on number 1 cylinder are free to move and the timing mark on the crank pulley is at the top end you have found top dead centre. if you are still unsure remove the number 1 spark plug and put a long piece of wire in the plug hole to check if the piston is at the top. You cant go wrong

yeah i didi it buy putting a screwdriver down the #1 spark plug hole, and estimating where the mark on teh non exsistant marker would be.

There is a nice square in the tinming cover where the arm with the mark should be

I found this to be the easiest and most accurite way to find true tdc. using a degree wheel on the end of the crank and a stopper in your number 1 plug hole, turn the crank all the way clockwise till the piston rests on the stopper mark the wheel then turn anitclockwise till the piston rests on the stopper mark it again, remove the stopper and exactly halfway between the too marks on the degree wheel is tdc. you may need to fix a small peice of wire to the block or timing cover to use as a reference point so as you can get the marks on the degree wheel acurite, you can also use the stopper method without a degree wheel to make sure the mark on the harmonic balancer is true tdc