Today I swapped the tailgate (for fun) and then fired it up for a test run. It immediately stalled in 2nd gear. Twice. I threw it in granny gear and limped it out to the road. On the road it would barely move. Increased throttle just created a large smokescreen. Pretty near useless as a vehicle. The engine sounds like it's crunching rocks (as always), but it feels smooth and balanced. There's a slight overtone, almost like a pinging. I know I have a bunch of variables, but I'm suspicious of timing.
CDR & air cleaner are missing (intake howl is probably contributing to the sound I'm hearing). Timing set is new, and internal timing marks were checked twice (at least). The IP was transplanted to the new block, and aligned as follows:
View attachment 276690
I do not have the means to get accurate timing information from the engine, so it's just set a couple line-widths to the right. No rhyme or reason beyond internet folk lore (the Haynes and CUCV manuals just say to use proper equipment).
It starts nicely and idles smoothly, it just won't get off idle.
@AgDieseler,
@KirsL, is there something glaringly wrong here? Are the marks too far apart for an engine with a new timing chain?