you could set the crank to 90 deg BTDC and turn the cams all you want. that way, all pistons would be halfway down and you'd have all the clearance you need. once the cams are set, you can turn the crank back to TDC and put the timing chain on. (obviously if you do it with the chain on the whole time, it'll shift the cams once you put the crank at TDC and definitely bend some valves)
sorry, i don't have any tips for you for basic, i never went.
__________________
|