breif history: Well first of all, I replaced my water pump, as well as, my timing belts. After the job was complete, engine did not run right (kind of retarded). I had to do a few things to the distributor and that helped a little bit. I redid my timing again and I notice that the front balance shaft was off about three tooth. As for the rear balance shaft, when the shaft is locked in from behind the engine, the timing marks on that gear did not align with the mark on the engine. I reset the front bal shaft but on the rear, when the shaft is locked in behind the engine, the mark goes off and doesn't align with engine mark. So did the best I could to align the marks. However, the shaft did want to lock in. The result were a little better but not good enough.

Q: Would the balance shaft have the capability to throw off the my engine performance ( engine's retardedness )?

 

I am hardly an expert on this subject, but since there are a number of marks present, did you use the correct mark? Just my two-cents worth.

 

The timing marks on the balancer shafts wont affect how the car runs. It will will great a shake or a vibration feeling when the Rpm's go up. Thats why its called a balancer shaft. It counteracts the movement of the crank to reduce vibration. It sounds like your timing wether it be cam or crank is off by a tooth. By adjusting the distributor you may have been able to get the ignition timing back to where it was before but the valve timing is probably still off.

Go back and recheck it. Make sure the cam gear marks align with the head and make sure the crank mark is aligned with the arrow on the block. I like to put the belt on the cam gear and us a clamp (like they use to hold a stack of paper together) so it doesn't fall off. Than work counter clockwise. Put it on the crank gear than the waterpump and tensioner.