The timing mark was not visable with my light which has 180 advance/retard. I did bring #1 to top dead center of the compression stroke and the mark on the balancer was 180 out with the rotor pointing to the #1 post od cap. I believe this is why i could not see it with my light! exactly 180 out! the cap is keyed and only goes one way and with the #1 post being marked and going to the first spark plug closest to the radiator! This is my first ford 250 #1 is closest to the radiator correct? the engine runs farely good and the balancer is solid so i don't think it has spun on the rubber exactly 180 out and still run good? I do think the timing chain is sloppy because the engine seems to jump in rpm randomly.

I ended up setting the timing for highest rpm and then backed of a little to get me going.

any ideas would be appreciated...big time!!!