Steve/Blodgit2 – Brian and I both have had a little experience with some of the new alternative technologies that offer a potential way to easily check the timing on these vintage MBZ diesels’ IP(s).
I even took a gamble and successfully E-bay bid on a $1,000 piezo-pulse device for under $200… but thus far I am not happy with the variability of the test results of the equipment which is used as a trigger for a standard inductive timing strobe light. Soon we will get back to this project.

Steve - So after your POST, I went to the Snap-On website to see if I could spot what you spoke of and I came up with their modern day version of the same piezo-pulse technology for ~$300. See:
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=all&item_ID=56075&group_ID=1389&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

Snap-On also shows a timing indicator/gauge but it’s only for the newer Bosch IP on the VW & Audi diesels. See:http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=all&item_ID=10657&group_ID=1325&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog
By all means Steve, tell us more if what you think what you saw is NOT either of these!

I’m off tomorrow for Miami until Monday to attend a wedding !

Regards,