LA360 initial timing too high - are there different timing covers?

Well actually, I was talking about putting the dial indicator right on the lifter body, by either pulling the intake or rigging up some sort of substitute pushrod that would ride directly on the outer lifter body.

This looked wonky to me too at first. It is mirrored left to right from some cam timing diagrams. But then I got it. For anyone trying make sense of the OP's cam timing presentation, just remember that this is the degreeing on the damper. To look at it in the right way, then imagine the timing cover pointer moving around at the outside of this wheel in a COUNTERCLOCKWISE direction. (Think about it: If you are a bug riding on the damper, the timing cover point moves CCW to where you are.)

Then realize that the order of getting to the valve timing events is:
1. Ex Open
2. In Open
3. Ex Close
4. In Close

Yeah, AJ, I thought about if the engine cold get to 19" of vacuum with this duration with 50 degrees of initial.... I seriously doubt it, but like you, I have not ever tried that LOL