[colo]

Alright guys,

So I got back to it today with a timing light on loan from my father-in-law. This one is known to be accurate.

Sure enough, it agrees with mine. The timing mark is appearing under the water pump near the lower hose outlet. I started retarding the timing and right around an inch from where the marker plate begins it completely bogs out and dies. Probably 15-20 degrees advanced at that point.

Is there some way for me to confirm that the balancer has/hasn't shifted? I hear later engines have the two-part dampener which can degrade and rotate separate of the crank. Since the code on the block tells me it's from a '75, perhaps I am staring down an inaccurate timing mark?

I just want to be sure I'm not dropping the little/no cash I have left on a part I don't need.