Here is my two cents, for what it's worth. My timing tab has a white paint mark and a red paint mark. I line up the pointer with the white mark with the vac lines disconnected and clamped shut. Then, when I reconnect them I make sure that the pointer lines up with the red mark. PERIOD, THAT'S IT. The white mark lines up with TDC and the red mark is 15 degrees BTDC. I do know that there are different timing specs for California cars.
When I have done the timing belt I followed my own rules. I rotate the engine by hand to line up the cam gear at TDC ("UP" stamp pointing straight up). Then, when the belt is off I line up the crank so the timing pointing is dead on the "T" mark, or the white paint mark on my engine. Then, when the new belt goes on everything is peachy.
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