[blykins]

cobrabuilder...

You don't need a mark on the distributor...Put #1 piston at TDC on the compression stroke, then just put the rotor on the #1 plug position on the distributor cap. Make sure your firing order is correct.

I think you may have done that, by your saying that you pulled the plugs out and found which one was highest...but remember, t here is a TDC on the exhaust and compression strokes both. You have to get the compression stroke. Just pull the #1 plug out, stick your finger in the hole, then rotate the engine (make sure you have no electricity to the engine at this point) and wait until it blows your finger out. You should be reading close to 0 degrees TDC on the harmonic balancer. Then just pop the distributor out, and put the rotor pointing at the #1 plug wire on the distributor cap.

I don't think you screwed anything up....just don't make a habit of it. It's awfully hard on power valves.

Has this engine been ran before?