I have a gear drive engine out of a rodeo in the mu I put in a few years ago.
I went to pull the pump out today check all the timing marks pull the inspection cover off the front of the pump find the 0 mark on the pump no worries.
Check timing marks on the harmonic balancer way out rotate engine with 24mm socket about 4-6 times every time the timing marks are facing to the ground not where the pointer is for them on top.
Could of the key way given way and it has moved or has the pump been installed wrong before I bought it .
The engine has never run very good since I bought a while back gutless compared to my 3.1 engine.