bartamos is spot on how you should proceed. Not much time or labor involved in checking static timing (engine not running). If the timing doesn't line up, you than need to determine whether it may be due to either a stripped distributor gear or the timing gears. I feel your pain. Its your baby and it is sick. Put your emotions aside and approach it with pure logic. I am not preaching to you, I am relating to you what I often have to overcome when my 'baby' is sick.
