Chevrolet Repair: Timeing chain, timing chain, rocker arms

Question
Hi Van,

I have a 1966 Chevy pick-up with a small block 350 engine.
This car was last running about two months ago,
I recently went to drive it and it would not run.
It starts to fire but just doesn't want to take off.
Initially I was thinking it was a carburation problem
since I had recently rebuilt it myself but given the
fact that is had been running since and after
talking to a carb expert we decided to explore
some other possibilities.  There is spark to the plugs,
compression is between 125 lbs and 145 lbs per cylinder,
and gas is getting to the carb. There seems to be some
engine kick back going on also, usually after I've been
trying to start it for awhile and I noticed some wear
on the flywheel/starter teeth . What I am wondering
at this point is it possible that the timing chain
is slipping or has slipped and would this cause
the type of problem decribed above, also is there
some kind of test I could perform to determine if
this is a timing chain problem before I tear into it.
Any light you could shed on this would be helpful........

Thank you,
Jerry

Answer
A 66 has points, and that is probably where you need to look.
Make sure the contacts are clean, and then set the dwell.
As for the timing chain...if it was running when you shut it off, I doubt it jumped since.
There is a way to tell, but it requires removing a valve cover, and watching the rocker arms and timing mark.   As #1 cylinder exhaust rocker closes the valve all the way, and the intake rocker just barely begins to open the intake valve...at that exact time where they switch from one moving to the other moving...the piston is at top dead center. It is not on the firing stroke, #6 is at TDC of the firing stroke. But #1 is at TDC at that instant, so if the mark is lined up, the timing chain is fine. The rotor should be pointing toward # 6. One complete revolution of the crankshaft will bring the rotor to #1, timing mark lined up, and #6 rocker arms will be "rocking".
This works on any engine...cylinders opposite of each other in the firing order.
Now it is also possible that your valve lifters have leaked down, and lack of oil pressure hasn't pumped them up yet, thus they are not opening correctly....just a possibility.
Have you tried pouring about an ounce of gas into the carb throat before cranking? You could have a fuel pump problem, or even water in the gas tank.
Van