I think the only guessing is trying to work out what cam YOU have. The cam grinder doesn't know or really care what the specs are he ground on it apart from saying its a stock cam?? That's like getting a car painted and the guy saying he doesn't know what colour he used.....so now it's up to you to measure the thing yourself and see what you have. You say you have TDC sorted out? Good,go ahead and see when the valves open and close at .050" and max lobe lift. Then you can see if it matches a slant six stock grind..for what it matters.... If you want stock cam specs do a search on this site under melling or just google cs380 or spd3.These are the stock replacement cams available now....be it for 170,198 or 225...as to what it had in it 50 years ago is irrelevant,it won't be what you have on that cam. People here are trying to help you,they have good knowledge.If you don't have the patience to persevere,then walk away and try again later...or go ahead and join the dots if that makes you happy.....or just get a normal timing set and a stock replacement cam and join the dots,at least that way you have a rough idea what you have,but hey,it's your engine and you will have to live with how it runs! Over and out.

I have had 2 stock timing sets that were stamped with the dots 1 tooth off. I can't remember exactly but I think it was 13 or 15 degrees off. Take your time and you can do this. You will be glad you did.

Just take out the cam bolt and move the chain 1 tooth and recheck. Forget about the dots. You use them just as a starting point and adjust from there.

Rick

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2 Mopars come with Spark plug tubes. One is a world class, racing machine. The other is a 426 CI. boat anchor!

12.70 @ 104.6

What Rick Said. I went through exactly the same thing on my current engine. It ends up being a real brain teaser at first, but eventually the light bulb goes on and things will make sense. Your arm may get tired of twisting that crank around multiple times. I think I had the degree wheel on the front of mine for maybe a week, checking and rechecking. I bolted a bent coat hanger to the timing chain cover mount for a pointer. I did not trust the magnetic thing to stay put.

Sam

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