79' Chevy Blazer

[Xandermull]

Thought i'd run this by the forums before tackling this problem that seems to have occurred.

I have a 1979 Chevy Full Size blazer with a crate 305 replacement motor for the stock motor that was damaged from a previous owner. I purchased the vehicle and have since installed a new transmission (was bad when i bought it hence the inexpensive price of 150.00)

We finished putting in the new trans last night, were about to fire her up and turn the key, No go, at all!!! She turns over trying to start, will spit and sputter and backfire out of the carbeurator (large burst of gas grayish in color) The distributor was loose, and upon inspection the rotor button (spins to maek contact to fire cylanders) needed dire replacement the metal piece that sits on top makign connection from the HEI coil to the spark terminal had broken free of the plastic cap. So a trip to the auto parts store alter and a new button installed we attempted to fire her up again. Still, nothing. After checking for spark (screwdriver in the wire against a ground while a short attempted crank) she is getting spark but seems direly out of time or something. Attempts to rotate the distributor are in vain, as the distributor has come loose and can be tightened down but now we have no clue as to how to check the timing on this little 305.

Upon inspection of the harmonic balancer there are no timing marks nor a timing tab to see if the engine is in time.

The question i have is how do you check timing on a 305 motor without the harmonic balancer timing marks or timing tab (according to manual they were never on the vehicle to start with)