HEI distributor bolt

[bigtendude]

I just found out yesterday that my timing is wrong on my engine. What side of my distributor should the hold down bolt be located. drivers side or where? Also, the previous owner marked 3 locations on the flywheel for the timing, the mark that I KNOW is right one is the one with the groove all the way across the flywheel. The timing is NOT set there, it is on one of the other homemade locations. Also, because the timing pointer is down under the water pump( 1/2 inch space) it is hard to see the pointer on the engine. Therefore it is hard to see where it says before or after. I can see the "0" My timing is supposed to be 8 degrees before TDC! Which way should I move timing to get to this number. Can anyone post a picture of the pointer with the notches marked for 8 degrees beforeTDC? I have 350cui. w/TH350 1978 C10 Big10 and HEI distributor, 110,000 miles on engine Do you think this is why I am getting poor mileage? Thanks in advance.

[Pontiac1976]

I hope this helps answer your Questions

Q:

What side of my distributor should the hold down bolt be located. drivers side or where?

A : Well if your looking at it from the passenger side , it's on the (right side ) passenger side closer to the fire wall .( 1975 -1987 HEI hold down bolt).

Q:

Therefore it is hard to see where it says before or after. I can see the "0" My timing is supposed to be 8 degrees before TDC! Which way should I move timing to get to this number.

A:
Well the top mark should be 12 BEFORE then 8 BEFORE then 4 BEFORE then 0 dead center then bottom half 4 After then 8 After then the bottom edge would be 12 After. By moving the dist
Clock wise 1,8,4,3,6,5,7,2 will make the timing retard ( or move the timing mark to the Before side.) moving the dist counter clock wise
against the rotation to Advance ( or move the timing mark to the After side.)

[bigtendude]

Thanks Pontiac, is it still possible to do this by ear, I used to do it on my other vehicles all the time, but I guess I'll use the light, now that I have relocated it.