[70pontiaction]

When you re-install the crank gear to advance the cam the timing marks on the balancer DON'T move - just the gear inside the timing cover moves in relation to the crankshaft.

The fact that the timing moved exactly 4 degrees tells you that the cam is advanced that same 4 degrees.

I had a stock 1970 GTO 400 years ago with the RAIII 301/313 cam in it. We installed a 4 degree keyway to advance the cam when we installed it, because the GTO only had 3.23 gears and we wanted to pump up the bottom end. The rest of the engine was stock except for Thorley headers. And we DID install an HO Racing kit in the qjet. Stock distributor with lighter springs at 15 degrees initial timing.

With a 4spd, no posi 3.23s and LR50x15 TA Radials it ran a best of 13.85@103 in a big heavy 1970 GTO at 4800 ft shifting at 5500RPMs.

I've driven and ridden in several other RAIII 301/313 cammed GTOs with the cam straight up and they had considerably less power down low.

Finally lost that motor to a FRAM filter.........haven't used one since.

I've installed every cam since then 2 degrees advanced just to make up for chain slop. Never degreed one yet.

Verdoro: Glad the 4 degrees made a difference - hope you can figure out the other issues.