I bought a new GM 350 crate engine for my z28 and the timing marker is at the 12 o clock position on the timing cover and i am having a hard time setting the timing. the engine will not run with the timing at 6 degrees BTDC on the timing mark. the engine runs great with the mark at about the 2 o clock postion like it was on my factory motor. why did GM change locations of the timing marker. i now have to go by ear to set timing because where it idles smooth, its no where close to the tab on cover. anybody have this problem? the crate engine is the 91-93 caprice 350 engine from jim pace.

 

That's where mine is.

You either need a harmonic damper to match the tab location, a front cover with the tab to match the damper, or make your own mark on the damper.

 

my friend had this problem so he just set #1 at TDC and painted a new line on the balancer where the 0 mark was