Thanks Ron,
Yes, I do know that this is the same order, which I why I said it was firing order...sorta. I guess it wanted to fire #4 first...

I'll make this clear again and again. I checked that damn gear a dozen times it looks EXACTLY like your figure, yet it is in backwards. I kept setting #1 TDC, timing at 15-16, dizzy gear as per your diagram. I held a printed copy of your photo up against my engine to compare the angle. I *can* tell that the upper right half of the ring is smaller. I then put on the cap, removed the #1 spark and rotated the dizzy until it sparked (or made that little pop).

This should have worked but the dizzy gear is backwards and that means that the TDC, 16-BTC, and rotor align at TWICE, which is what I could not puzzle out.

The only thing I can think is that the #1 TDC is *not* when #1 intake just closed, #1 exhaust not yet opened, but maybe another cycle around? However, the timing marks line up at precisely this spot and it makes logical sense. None of the articles are especially clear on this point.

Funny, though, I did try inverting the gear 180 and it still would not start, but there must have been too many open variables at that time. I only just today discovered that little notch in the distributor case...

But... a question for you specifically. Since you refer to your article, why do you not discuss the likelihood of inverting that gear, and what kind of problems you see when you do it? Because, it can appear as your diagram shows, but still be wrong.

Knowing how to catch this problem is the lesson I've learned from this whole experience.