350 SBC 180 out of time and still run?

[Robbp]

Hi all,

My first post here, thanks for having me, and Merry Christmas!!

MY son recently got his first project ~ 68 chevy c-10 truck he is going to rat rod. It contains what we beleive is a 350. We cant get to the casting number, but according to the head casting number and huge dampner, it appears to be a1971 350. unknown miles on engine.

Anyway,, we were told by a previous owner that the carb needed rebuilt, the engine has a mild cam, and she ran rough, needs a tune up!
We got her home and she does run rough!, fuel line was kinked, fixed that. checked wires with firing order, two wires crossed, fixed that. It has HEI distributor (Accel) and wires.
THe engine is also sporting a chrome timeing cover, elebrock performer manifold and Eldelbrock performer carb.

The engine is running but not well. Mild cam? all the aftermarket parts, someone def had thier hands in this engine. We are trying to get her right.
One issue I hope you can help with is this: We attempt to set timing, timeing light connected to wire #1 no timing mark. We end up finding the mark 180 degrees from where she should be.
We used a compression tester to find Top dead center on cylinder number one. When we get the pressure on the up stroke the timing marks is 180 degress off. The distributor rotor IS pointing to #1 wire at TDC. ??????????? Are we 180 out? is the dampner installed wrong? timing gears out? will a SBC run 180 degress out of time?

I have video of the engine running, and its not running terrible but its not running great!. It starts rough, smooths out a little when warmed up. She has a donut gasket leak at the manifold we have to fix yet. Engine does not tick, knock or backfire when it runs.

Pulled two plugs and its wet with oil/fuel. When she runs she spews white/gray smoke like its running rich.

The old oil smells like fuel. Changed that.....

Could this be a carb issue?
I am obviously a backyard mechanice but I have played with SBC's for years but this one I am confused.

Any direction or help is very much appreciated! I will try to post the videos of the engine running, running under load, then the exhaust while running.



Thanks again!
Robb