mazdatweaker
+1y
Thank you for clarifying / defining what to you is "old school."
Sometimes it takes some detective work, i.e. being a "dick" to get to the root of the problems.
Starting from anbiguity brings confusion into the mix.
Your extra explanation and information now provides the data necessary to maybe sort out some of these issues you are having with your truck.
1. The crank pulley bolt was loose. It is supposed to be torqued to 160-180 ft./lbs. Because it was loose, it allowed the lower gear to move around, which over time would have retarded both cam and distributor timing.
"What I mean by the "old school method" is making sure that you get the #1 piston on tdc on the compression stroke and make the rotor on the dizzy to point to spark blug 1, easy right."
If you did things that way, you would have by default retarded the timing six degrees, as correct static firing time is 6 degrees btdc.
And if your timing was already incorrect due to a wallowed out keyway, there is no telling what your gun actually was showing you, as the timing marks would not be correctly oriented due to the skew.
Incidentally, because cam timing was probably late, it is likely the engine was running lean, due to a lack of a good intake charge, leading to some of the detonation you defined as pinging.
2. The oil pump runs behind the seal. The seal keeps oil in the engine. No vacuum /pressure issues. But if it isn't any good, the oil will get pumped out.
3. If you can post a picture of the crank where it is damaged, I may have an idea or two to offer.