We checked the location of the distributor rotor when the timing mark on the crank was at TDC compression. It points to the center of the firewall (2 or 3 degrees to the left of the 12:00 position of the distributor itself).

We removed the timing belt cover on the distributor side head and the timing mark lines up with the mark on the backing plate ( 12:00) dead on with the crank at TDC. I haven't removed the fan belt idler pulley assembly to remove the belt cover on the other head to check that timing mark yet but will do that later this evening.

My son and I were thinking that maybe if that side were off one tooth but the distributor side was dead on that maybe that would cause the timing to have to be advanced because the light is reading off of piston #1. Just thinking!

We got to playing with it some more and twisted the distirbutor all the way clockwise, she runs better and if we plug off the fuel pressure regulator vacuum hose, she seems to really start to liven up. We checked Base timing with the distributor there and the mark is about 20 degrees off the scale. (something has to be wrong <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />)

I had my son rev the engine and the timing advance seems to be working cause I could watch the mark move.

We checked the balancer and the crank bolt, both are tight and show no signs of movement.

This has really got me puzzled!!!