What's the worst that could happen?

[Pistol Pete]

1. Thanks, that's very helpful. When I installed the cam, I noticed the balancer (keyed, of course) went back on the end of the crank with timing mark dead on TDC (because I hadn't moved anything during reassembly) with the alignment marks on the cam and crank sprockets lined up.
Made sense at the time and was reassuring.

Therefore, when I re-installed the distributor drive gear/oil pump drive, I made sure to have the slot facing front/back along the engine axis - and the distributor went right in pointing directly at #1 terminal as a result.
Again, made sense and was reassuring...

So, if timing marks are right on cam/crank AND balancer timing mark landed right on TDC when installed AND distributor landed right on #1 terminal when installed...
would everything be in the right place, more or less?
Certainly within fine adjustment range?

2. Yes, the timing advances when I goose the throttle.

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I want to "publicly" thank DD here for all his help, both in the forums and in private. He's going way out of his way to try and help me.

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Could be, but it was a pretty snug interference fit on the keyway when I installed it. Key could have snapped, I suppose...

What Hunt is referring to is if the balancer has slipped on the rubber ring, moving the TDC mark. Old, original balancers are notorious for this.

Get (or make) a piston stop and install it in # 1

Rotate the motor by hand, clockwise, until the piston makes contact.

Mark the balancer at the edge of the timing tab.

Rotate the motor, again by hand, counter clockwise until the piston makes contact.

Again, mark the balancer at the edge of the timing tab.

Split the difference between the two marks on the balancer and that is TDC.

If it is not where factory mark is located, the balancer has slipped on the ring.

 

[moparedtn]

[/B]


What Hunt is referring to is if the balancer has slipped on the rubber ring, moving the TDC mark. Old, original balancers are notorious for this.

Get (or make) a piston stop and install it in # 1

Rotate the motor by hand, clockwise, until the piston makes contact.

Mark the balancer at the edge of the timing tab.

Rotate the motor, again by hand, counter clockwise until the piston makes contact.

Again, mark the balancer at the edge of the timing tab.

Split the difference between the two marks on the balancer and that is TDC.

If it is not where factory mark is located, the balancer has slipped on the ring.

Ohhhhh, I get ya. Yep, that's my next move.
I'd be surprised if it was off by much, though - it idles and fires up too nice.

 

[440roadrunner]

You are having serious trouble. You need to start checking things off. FINDING TRUE TDC is one thing to "check off." This won't take you but a very few minutes. You need a piston stop, and you can make one, even.


I would also check "rotor phasing." Google it. Youl'll find lots of info

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWMlNwGW0tM

Then I would FOR CERTAIN, that is FOR ABSOLUTE certain, map out distributor advance. This is either going to require a "delay" timeing light, or you are going to have to mark your balancer.

That does not take long, either. You can buy timing tape, so long as you get the right size, or just accurately measure around the OD of the balancer, and figure out "degrees per inch" and mark it off.

 

[moparedtn]

Thanks, but obviously one cannot "rotor phase" a stock distributor like that (rotor button isn't the kind that takes to adjusting, after all).
I thought I had a carb coming that I could use as a known good baseline to eliminate that possibility, but that's fallen through, too, just like everything else.

Seriously dejected over this. To get this close to finishing the car, only to have this pop up and not be resolved, just makes me want to quit and sell the damn car.
I don't have much time left on this earth, after all. This was supposed to be a fun hobby, one last shot at it before I'm gone.

UPDATE:
I ain't quitting. Just picked this up on ePray for $250:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/281799175081