Pontiac Owners Club UK

I've tested the timing chain on my 305 by rotating the engine by hand clockwise to 0 on the timing pointer, then anti clockwise till the rotor moves. I get 8 degrees before the rotor moves. I know this is bad, but is it worth the expence on a tired engine?
i mean when i do it, will the engine run any better? or won't i notice anything.
Also i get a steady 16in hg vacuum and when i did a compression test the other year, the lowest was 155psi and highest 160psi. I have the ignition timing at 22 degrees, if i set it at stock 6 degrees it runs terrible

maybe i'm paranoid, but i'm just not sure what is the best thing to do.
Thanks

will have some slop in the timing chain / train side of things, the engine only runs one way so not really a great test to do to be honest in the real world ,if you still have the original bonded vibration damper it may well have moved a little on the bonding seen it before hence looks like its running dif timing also depends on the engine having any modified internal parts, have you put a piston stop tool in cylinder 1 and then checked the timing marks at tdc are 0 as long as the timing is stationary when running i would not worry

I don't think the timing wandered last time i checked it. i will get a piston stop and check that. thanks