273 cam & crank timing marks, confussed

63dartman said
The timing marks should be at 12 and 12 to have #1 cylinder at tdc. You do not need to tear it down? You have it right. Now if you were building a chevy motor it's 12 and 6 for #1 at tdc. I think that's where all the confusion comes from.

huh? a chevy has the exact same firing order bigblock and smallblock that a smallblock mopar has. even the same distributor rotation.

just put it at 12 o'clock on the cam and 6 o'clock at the crank and you will be set. use a straight edge to make sure you're not 1 tooth off.