A stovebolt (or any other engine) won't run at all with a stripped timing gear. You're beginning to sound like the guys we once called "wheelbarrow mechanics"- - - - - -roll a wheelbarrow full of new parts up to the job, and start swapping stuff out until something fixes the problem- - - - -then charge the customer for everything you installed, plus a lot of labor time. It sounds like the problem might be carburetion, and there are plenty of ways to eliminate other issues by doing some simple diagnostic tests. You can verify the camshaft timing by watching the movement of the valve rocker arms on either the #1 of #6 cylinders and looking at the timing mark on the flywheel. You can get the ignition timing within +/- 2 degrees or so with the engine stopped- - - -just line up the "BB" on the flywheel with the pointer, and turn the distributor housing counterclockwise until the points just barely break open. Adjust the valves, run a compression test, and check for vacuum leaks once the engine is running by running the tip of an unlit Propane torch around the intake manifold and carburetor base. So far, none of these checks require replacing ANY parts. No, they won't get done, because it's easier to make a WAG and throw parts at the problem!
Jerry
