more info..
This morning, I pulled all the plugs out and removed the valve covers.. rotated the crank by hand, and am very happy to say that every rocker moved up and down .. they all appeared to move the same amount.. I was a little worried (based on what someone else suggested at one point) that one of my cam lobes may have sheared/flattened...
I'm really wondering if my cam timing is off.... but without having adjustable cam sprockets, I would guess the only way my cam timing would be off is if it's off by an entire tooth... which is possible. When I installed the cam, I did it by lining up the dimples on the gears. I've watched videos on how to degree a cam, and it looks very complicated .. not to mention, it means I've got to pull everything (alternator, fan, water pump, timing cover) off the front of the engine... but if that's what I need to do, I guess I have no choice.
