I am trying to install my oil pump drive. As I understand it, with the #1 piston at tdc the slot should be aligned parallel with the cam centerline. As you can see, it's off a little. I checked my running 440 and it's exactly aligned.

Could the cam timing be off in relation to the crank?

Thanks!

No its off a little, sounds like yours is right. No pic to see it though.

Not saying you're wrong, but the thing I find confusing, is that the book says it should be aligned, and my running engine is aligned. Also, with everything at TDC on the running engine, the vacuum advance on the distributor is pointing roughly at the #1 cylinder when the rotor is pointing at the #1 plug on the cap, but on this engine it would be pointing at the oil filter (more toward the front of the engine) if you follow me (sorry, just learning and my descriptions may be vague). Why would there be differences in the two engines?

Drop it down and watch where the rotor is pointing. Put the cap on and install the number one plug wire in the terminal where the rotor was pointing and follow the firing order around the cap. As long as you have room to turn the distributor to adjust the timing you will be fine. The spec as written are for uniformity sake, in the real world in makes you difference where the distributor is installed as long as the firing order is followed and you can adjust the timing.

It is off one or two teeth from what the FSM suggest to use You can rotate it back or forth as needed, bring it up top TDC , check through the spark plug hole and the timing marks and go from there, you can do that