Hello fellows!
We have driven couple thousand miles in this summer and coach has worked just fine.
Sunday morning I was cold starting engine on normally method: one pedal push and crank, usually fires right up, nothing happens this time, second push and more cranking, BIG bang and and we don´t have right muffler any more.
First check with plug that we have spark.
Second turned engine on timing marks and open distributor cap and left valve cover, rotor was pointing cyl 1 and valves closed (just eye check, not measured).
Get my timing light it was broken (wht a suprise).
Monday friend came visit with working timing light, we couldn´t find marks with light when cranking.
We tryed also with fresh plugs and other ignition module, won´t start.
Cap nad rotor are not new but looks ok. Also measured pickup coil resistance, it was just under 800 ohms.
Now questions, Cheap and easy first: Module, pickup coil, ignition coil ???
Not so easy: Camshaft timing gear, 44tml original 455 engine, seems that it has never opened.
Am I right that original cam gear is nylon or phenolic or something not steel?
If I need to chance timing gear and chain set could it be done without remowing transmission and oilpan like TSM says ?
If timing has failed what else usually happens in Olds engine, bent push rods or valves. I have not had time to open right valve cover or make compression and by-pass tests.
One thing Í´m happy is that it brokes at home, not 550 miles away like week before... We can´t have insurance that covers towing this size and age vehicles.

Jake

You are over-thinking this problem. I suggest that the problem is probably ignition related....