Set it by the tip, with the spout pulled out. Ignore the circle. It's for an obsolete timing device
Right now you are at 44 degrees of timing. Should be 10-14
Did this engine run when you bought it?... all of this is starting to sound like a cam timing issue to me.Barely runs at 14. But when I go a tooth forward on the distributor, the car wont start. Thinking I went the wrong way, I went two teeth back, and it also wouldnt start. When I put it back in the middle, it starts, idles like it has been, but runs and revs and shows 40+ degrees. Im starting to hate this car.
Whenever I have timing issues I take a deep breath, and start basic, roll it over to the #1 compression stroke, with the pointer on the balancer at 0 and the rotor pointing at #1. Make sure my wires are right and fire it up, with the spout out set timing to 12 with a timing light, shut it off put spout back, happy motoring (hopefully)
Now I know that you know all that, but why does it run at 40* and not 14*, when bring #1to compression is the pointer at 0 or darn close on the balancer
s and giggles.One tooth forward or back makes no difference. You just spin the dist to compensate. In theory if the intake wasn't in the way you could just stab the dist anywhere and rotate the housing until it starts abs then time it from there.,
Did you ever pull the timing cover? I wonder if the cam wasn't installed or degreed correctly

Sweep them leaves up first chance you get.
Oh and good job so far!
It's the basic things that escape us sometines
Thats MR Mr thiefTrust me, leaves in the garage annoy the hell out of me. Those were all from having the door open today. My neighbor has big trees, and doesnt bother to tend to the leaves all that well. They are already picked up, dont you worry Mr Thief.

I have been keeping a close eye out for a used 70mm Accufab TB, and just snagged one today. They certainly hold their value.
On another note, I am trying to decide on a clutch. There are so many similar ones out there... I am leaning toward the Exedy Mach 400 Stage 2 on American Muscle. Says it holds 475 lb ft, and seems to have good reviews for the price.
Lastly, I need tail pipes, but I dont want the same ol' same. There is a mild steel kit on Ebay I am considering. Its non aluminized, so how does that hold up long term @CarMichael Angelo ? I will either be painting it, or having it coated, so I think it'll be fine, eh? I was pretty disappointed in my local exhaust shop. They have done some cool jobs for me before, but when I asked if I could have them bend me a few pipes and I would take them home and piece them together myself, I got a![]()