you got to go to top dead center or tdc of the compression stroke for the number one cylinder. i use a compression gague and as soon as i see the gague reading. i start trying to set the distributor it will be advanced at this point. a little playing and you will get it close to time it. it may be one or two teeth back on the distributor but move it slowly. some times you can feel the teeth some time you can not. so be careful here and try starting it to see if it fires may have to adjust it just before the number one cylinder for the rotor and button for the cap.after this it can be set with a timing light.once you get it started and running.