I thought checking the roll pin is as easy as cranking the engine with the distributor cap off and watching it spin no?
As you said go back to basics, check point gap, plug lead phase, TDC etc. before you go pulling distributors out. Start with the easy answer first!
And don't worry about pouring fuel down the carb and "hydraulicking" your engine. That only happens to panteradoug because he uses a 44 gallon drum of fuel to start his webers.
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