Thanks!
The bellhousing arrow is not as bad as i thought - photos are better than my eyes, and also the phone can get closer. I will try to view it perpendicular to the arrow, so that the arrow is in the middle of the hole (easier said than done due to heater core hoses).
Still having problems with mounting the dial indicator, but that will end tomorrow i hope - by either finishing my mount properly or by literally installing it on a magnetic base for a lathe! jk i could buy it, finally found it but its quite expensive and low quality.
Tried timing it today "by ear" as i was trying things out (also kinda impatient
) and it is so much better now! Cant wait to finally set it at 0.80mm and meet the true d24