Interesting timing problems... ideas

[Jesse <j2sax@xxxxxxxxx>]

So, I resurrected my 73 Commando 304/3spd.  Got it
from CO for little change because the PO claimed when
her husband died it wasn't running and when a friend
who was a "Mechanic" tried to start it, it caught on
fire.  

So when I went to pick it up, the first thing I
noticed was 3 empty cans of ether in the front
floorboard.  I decided to give it a shot and found no
fuel to the carb.  I hung a gas can from a bungee on
the open hood latch and started some fuel siphoning...
voila!  It fired right up!  Ran like crud though.  

So I towed it home, rebuilt the carb and it started
again though roughly.  Changed the points, coil and it
ran better, but backfired like crazy.  So, I restabbed
the dist and tried to set the timing (advance
plugged).  SO I can get it to idle really well, where
it will rev with almost no backfiring.  But at that
point the timing is so advanced it will hardly turn
over when I go to restart it.  If I get it to where it
will start, it will backfire (mostly exhaust) like
crazy.  

 Attempting to set the timing with a light is
WAAAAAAYY off.  When the engine runs decent, the
timing mark is still about 25 degrees clockwise from 5
degrees BTDC.  If I even attempt to get it close, the
engine almost cranks backwards!  

My belief is that some of the valves are a little slow
due to sitting for several years and that the timing
chain has jumped. 

What do you think of my theory?  I am probably going
to swap in one of the good running 360's rather than
delve deeper unless someone has any fabulous ideas.  I
can swap the engines in a about the same time as
changing the timing chain/cover water pump, oil pan
gasket , re-stabbing the dist and all that timing
chain stuff.  

Do well and have a great weekend, 

Jesse

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