I have a pontiac 350 I'm working on. The dang thing will not start unless it has an ungodly amount of timing. I mean so much that I can't even see the mark cause it is under the engine. I thought maybe the balancer had slipped but if I put the crank at 0, #1 is at TDC. It runs like butt once it fires.

Any ideas?

 

Your distributor would be 180 degrees off. Or the timing marks on the cam and crankshaft isn't configured correctly. If it hasn't had the timeing cover off the timing chain is bad and jumps. Or missing teeth on the gears itself.

 

This is not a conclusion just IMO whats going on here. Just to clear that up.

 

funny thing. it runs now. I changed nothing. I went out to start it wouldn't start. wtf? so I turned the cap back and got it to about 12* and started right up. Dialed into 9* and it lights up quick and easy. I have no clue but I'm glad the car gods blessed me for today