What could cause this? 360 problems ####update####

In about 1985, when I thought I knew everything, I installed a roller cam in a 440.
Didn’t own a degree wheel, and had never degreed a cam.

The engine sure would pull upstairs, but was def lacking down low.
Owner over revs it and blows it up.
In the process of building the replacement I get a degree wheel.
This is only the second cam I’ve degreed and I’m reusing the timing set from the previous engine.
I keep coming up with the cam is retarded 14*.
There was an old original Hemi timing set there in my friends shop.
Swap timing sets, cam is dead on. Hmmm. I must have not had it set right the first time.
Reinstall first timing set......triple check set up.........still retarded 14*.
Lay the two top gears on top of each other and line up bolt holes.
New gear has the dot on the wrong tooth.
Then the light came on........ that’s where the missing bottom end power was.

Since that day in 1985, I have had in my possession 4 other timing sets where the dot on the upper gear was on the wrong tooth.

When you want to be sure........ degree the cam.