This is why you degree the cam. If you just line up the dots, you would never have known how far it was off.

I mentioned the lifter bore question because the first time I tried to degree my cam (around 1980) I was trying to intake centerline the first lifter (exhaust), and could not figure out why the numbers kept coming out all messed up?

I have had good results with the 440 source timing sets and Comp Cams where the timing was really close dot-to-dot.
Worst I had seen was a Olds 455 with Howards cam and unknown brand timing set on a friends boat engine. I think it was 15 degrees off, and I don't recall the number of gear teeth, but I think being a tooth off was like 20 degrees or so? I think we had to install the cam a tooth off advanced and the retard crank slot to get the cam close?