1987 2.0 questions

I rebuilt the 2.0L 4 cyl engine and when i pulled it apart i noticed it didn't have a timing belt cover anyways sent it to machine bored it .040 over and turned the crank rebuilt the cylinder head by a head shop rebuilt the engine now the fun part no timing cover = no timing marks i got the engine to run rather smoothly but it has no power no popping or backfiring and holds good oil pressure does anyone have any advice on how to set the dist. timing without timing marks?

I can help if it has a distributor. Set the number 1 piston on Top Dead Center. Take the plugs out of the engine and rotate it until you feel compression on cylinder one. Stop and put a long screw driver into the spark plug hole. Continue rotating the engine until the screwdriver stops going up and just starts to go down. This is TDC #1. Loosen the distributor clamp and turn the ignition on. Rotate the body of the distributor until a test light on the primary side of the coil comes on. You now have it in firing positon for #1 TDC. Take some white paint and mark the crank pulley to the timing cover anyplace that can be seen and have a timing gun projected upon. This line should be lit up with the timing gun justa few degrees in advance.. I suspect the timing retarded and needs to be advanced.