The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Engine ID and slow starting

Changed both battery cables to big welding lead and run the ground straight to the starter bolt. It starts much better now.
I also did the vacuum gauge to set timing and it runs better. While I had the starter off I found the ball in the flywheel and painted it white. At no time or any throttle position or dist. position do I see the ball in the timing window.

While the starter was off I cleaned the block and found the numbers for the date code.
CON 2 K293

So that means K equals Nov.
29 is the 29th of the month and
3 is the year 53 or 63.

I don't know how to tell the year.Also what does the CON 2 mean

edit
I had a timing light and never got the ball to come into the window let alone near the pointer. I did however get the arrow to come into the window and even near the pointer but it didn't run very good there.