440 timing pinging and popping thru exaust

gotta get my hands on a digital timing light first...no timing marks to go by

?? You mean the damper has no marks on it at all? :pale: Not sure how you would set the timing at all even with a digital light...

Usually if the timing cover has the factory +10, -10* marks you can rotate the engine by hand and make extra marks on the damper so you can see the timing advance all the way up to 50 or 60* as that's what your total timing should be around WITH full vacuum and mechanical advance in operation