I have been a mechanic most of my life and ALMOST EVERY engine I "timed" while doing an R&R of the distributor I have seldom ever found the distributor
pointing" where the factory setting was.
Timing is not set by the factory position by most mechanics as they would not even bother to look up where it was supposed to be from the factory as it is just easier to drop the distributor in while #1 IS ON TDC and then work from where the rotor is pointing.
The direction the factory spec points at was for nothing other than mass production making everything the same on the production line.
I personally think it is a dis-service to post as those who do not understand "timing" think they have a problem if the rotor points in another direction when it is actually just fine~~IMHO
.
Dave Neptune