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Alright, I got off a little early today and decided to get a head start. I was happy to get the front end pulled off without having to remove the radiator/fluid. The crank sprocket was installed on the square slot, not the circle. I have everything lined up and feel confident no contact between the cam and piston was made. Small cam. Tomorrow I will get new gaskets and try to fire. No wonder I wasn't getting compression with the finger test!
I will post videos tomorrow.


Even so, on the Cloyes set (which I assume you have) the square slot is only 2 degrees retarded (on the cam). As long as you installed it square to dot with the #1 piston at TDC, it should make little difference and run fine, albeit with a little less low end torque. With the mark at 6:00 on cam gear and 12:00 on crank gear with #1 piston at TDC is exhaust stroke. with the marks at 12:00 and 12:00 and #1 piston at TDC is compression stroke and #1 firing.