now i know this may be a stupid question but i dont know the answer, when setting the valve clearance and i know that the clearance is
COLD: 0.25 mm (13 thousands inch)
HOT: 0.35 mm (14 thousands inch)
its says to turn the crankshaft to line up each rocker to do the test, heres the stupid question, how do you turn it. do i just use the starter or what?

you can use a bump switch hooked up to the starter, I used a wrench on the crank pulley with the tranny in neutral and turned it by hand cause I'm too cheap to buy a bump switch.

My 2cents worth
Kelmo

1) put it in 4th gear and pull the whole car foward to make each line up.

2) socket and ratchet on the harmonic balancer nut at the front.

3) pull plugs out(or if you got low compression) turn it over by the fan belt.

i think you'll find a 26mm socket on a 1/2" drive ratchet is the easiest.

sweet thanks peoples

don't forget to remove the wrench when you're done.
It will make a loud bang when you try and start the engine.
Don't ask how I know.

I guess I've tried all those methods (including the Bang! method).

I find it easiest just to put it in nuetral, and grab the fan and turn the engine. This works well on 1200s if the fan belt is not loose. If the spark plugs are out it turns easy, otherwise you have to slowly turn it against the compression. But it works.