[Fergusonic]

I have a 283 cu in with 305 heads and a 305 Harmonic Balancer. A Machine shop rebuilt it. They realized that the balancer's Timing Mark is in the wrong location for a 283 and therefore they set the engine #1 Top Dead Center compression and marked the balancer. Now for some more complications: .it has a Gear Drive in it and I do not know if they used a retard or advance key (?) nor do I know what kind of cam it has in it. When I try to set the Timing with a light I have to retard it a lot to even see the mark.....have to bump up the idle to keep it running. So that doesn't sound right. I have had the distributor in various positions and it doesn't seem to affect the performance of it. any recommendations?

[nitro_baller4692]

talk to the shop who put it together and if they don't help you i would never send anything there again.

[Berliner Bel Air]

Set the timing mark yourself with a positive stop thingy in the number one cylinder. Not hard, then you'll know for sure. I also had to do this for my 283 for the same reason.

The stop should include instructions on how to use it.