I suggest that before you do anything major you buy a workshop manual for the car. I've found that Haynes manuals are good.
About the timing.
Usually engines have timing marks on the block that need to be lined up with the ones on the gears the timing belt goes over. These are all explained in detail, with good pictures, on those manuals.
As a rule of thumb:
If the timing is off by one tooth, you get a noicy engine.
If it's off by two teeth, you get to replace your valves.
Not true on all cars, mind you.