Neebie here so greetings all,

Here's the problem: 1st lets start with a 350 out of a 1980 camaro. Strip all the cr*p down to just motor(no sensors and such) Add the Edelbrock performance kit, and no-one knows which one, other than it's supposed to have a "mild" rv cam. The kit came with cam , lifters, pushrods (maybe),and Roller rockers. The heads were reworked (I don't know by who or where). So sort of tuned (looking) headers , followed by dual full legnth (on a '50 Chevy Sedan Delivery) exhaust with cherry bomb mufflers. Back on top is a Pro-something (my friend/owners words not mine) aluminum intake topped off with a brand new Holley 600 carb and brand new Accel Distributor w/delco remy coil. Also has new timing chain.

Ok so HERES the problem. Timing this motor has been perplexing. To start with Im not sure the timing cover is correct as the mark plate sits way off the balancer. Secondly to bring the mark to 10 degrees at idle with vac. adv. removed and vac. gauge in place drops the idle drastically and will OCCASIONALLY spit fire through carb. The thing is when starting from this position on a luke warm motor, for the first minute or so it revs BEAUTIFULLY. The exhaust sounds good and the motor smoothes out. The trouble is that it drags on restart ( engine hot) and every third or so rev spits fire. Now I know this is timing issue as when the timing is advanced the rpms pick way up, the timing mark disappears from sight and while it still revs good it still lacks what it does with timing mark visible to 10 degrees on the plate w/tioming light.
We have done #1 piston tdc and checked rotor position and this is where timing mark shows on plate. I must be forgetting something so I will wait to here from you out there for any suggestions/Questions
Thanks for the chance,
Rick