Help: Builing a Street 408

[donraye]

Hi Everyone, The 408 (which has now become a 418) build is almost completed and all has gone pretty well so far.
I'm now at the point where I need to stab the distributor and do the engine intall, and I'm confused about how to do the distributor stab correctly for setting the initial timing.
I will be using the same MSD that was on the 351W with this 418. The only thing I changed on it was to buy a phenolic gear for it so I can use it with the steel core Hyd. Roller cam I have in this 418.
I intend to take the car to have it dyno tuned as soon as I have it back together and a few break-in minutes/miles on it. So I'm just wanting to get the engine set up so I will not hurt it until drive it have it professionally tuned.
My question is about stabbing the MSD distributor. I do not have a timing light and hoped not to have to get one as it will be going to the engine builder's dyno for tuning ASAP. So... Can I simply install the MSD by stabbing it with the timing mark on my balancer set on 10-12 degrees advance of TDC?
Or do I need to install it with the mark on the ballancer at 0 degrees TDC?
Someone said to use the 0 degree mark then "turn the distributor base" to advance the timing, but without a light this seems very iffy, if correct at all. Why not install the distributor with the timing mark at about 12 degrees (or if someone has a better starting set point?).
I will not fool with the internals of the distributor as it was fine in the 351 and I would not know what I was doing in there anyway.
The static compression in this engine is 10.3 to 1 the cam is a Comp Cams custom grind for the street from Keith Kraft. with:
Duration at .006 is 287 and 293
Timing @ .050 of: intake: 14 BTDC and 42 ABDC
exhaust: 53 BBDC and 9 ATDC
Separation is 108
Lobe lift is .347 and .360
Gross lift is: .555 and .576
All I want to do here is get the engine running without screwing somethig up or destroying it until I get it to the dyno about a half hour drive away.
Any help or better yet detailed step by step instructions for installing the distributor.
I know about how to set up the plug wires, etc. It's the degree to intall or stab it that's a mystery. And IF it is stabbed at 0 degrees on the balancer how do I set the initial advance without a timing light. Or can I?
HELP!