[A Snake]

Do check out your balancer and pointer and re-check TDC of piston.

You can "time by ear" or by driving, most of us old timers have done it. It carries the risk of detonation you can't hear with noisey side pipes though.

The easiest way to remember about cam timing and degreeing is that in general, advancing builds more low end and retarding builds more top end. The degreeing itself is simply a mechanical process to assure that the crank and cam are in the proper relationship with eachother. It is done with dial indicators on piston #1 and intake rocker #1 with the heads off.

Unless told otherwise by your (reliable) builder, the cam should be installed at "0". No retard or advance. Those tricks are better left to the all out racer. It is unnecessary for a street engine.

Al