You get to decide which position on the distributor cap will be #1. It doesn't matter as long as your wires will reach the plugs, the firing order is followed, and the rotor is pointing to the cap position you decided will be #1. In your case, it sounds like you need to pull the distributor up until you can turn the rotor, then turn it to near your #1, then set it back down. The dist will probably not set down all the way because of the oil pump shaft slot. With the dist out you can turn the oil pump shaft with a long screwdriver until it is about where the drive is in the dist gear. If the engine is at TDC just keep moving the oil pump shaft until the dist will set down all the way AND your rotor is pointing to your #1 on the cap.

Keith

 

Factory #1 position is rotor facing straight to the front of the car
And the vac advance about 45 deg to front on passengers side.
Pull @1 spark plug and turn engine over till u feel a lot of pressure..this is firing for #1
Now bump engine by hand and feel top of piston with a piece of wire
When piston is at the very top the timing mark should be at or very close to TDC
Now drop the dizzy in...line up oil pump shft as described in previous posts
As it drops in the rotor will turn clockwise a few degrees to get to the factory position above

Connect HT leads in the right order.
Turn the dizzy base ..so the vac advance unit moves about 5 to 10mmmm anti clock wise, this will give u around 5 to 12 degs intial advance, enough for an easy start..then set with timing light.

With the dizzy in factory position always gives a std reference point AND allows a neat layout of leads ...the rear 2 leads on each side can cross over low down ...they then all come off the dizzy laid out in order.

 

hehe yeah getting the oil pump to line up with the groove in the bottom of the dizzy can be a pain sometimes.

 

Wasn't there a big discussion on this two weeks ago and the official position was rotor pointing at #1 cylinder not dead ahead?

alan

 

The no.1, as the factory used, is at about 5 o'clock. The first post clockwise of the electrical wire connections.