I popped the crank on my 454 a few years back and picked up a 350 crate motor at great price. I had some family pull the motor of out of its crate and put the motor in, as I wasn't able to be around.

Any way's I used the new motor for 6500 miles and I was very upset with its performace and how it was running. I checked the timing with my light gun and the mark wasn't even close to the right spot. it was on the passanger side when the light flashed.

I turned the motor over tell I had compression on the #1 cylinder, and then lined the balancer up with 0 on the timing cover. I then pulled the distributer but couldn't get it to drop all the way with it facing the number one clyinder. I turned the motor over a bit and it dropped in all the way.

I fired the truck up and got it running but the light is flashing at about 14 before top dead. When I play with the distributer I can get it in as close as 12before and the motor starts to act up. Its also running hotter then it should and at times.

I can't think of what Im doing wrong or what to do. My last resort was the timing chain and gears dont match right. The dots where not lined up right when they installed them.

Any help would be great!