OK so I had some time tonight with the young lad to do some valvetrain setup. I did exactly like what your pdf said even printed it off taped the indicator to the balancer and followed the instructions to a T.

I didn't start the engine ran out of time tonight before I could get the valve covers back on.

But what I did uncover was interesting spark plug colors
#1 black and dry
#3 Dark Brown Dry tip but wet threads
#5 Dark Brown Dry tip but wet threads
#7 Dark Brown completely wet tip and threads
#2 Dark Tan wet threads
#4 Black Dry tip but wet threads
#6 Dark tan dry
#8 Black completely wet tip and threads

I checked all plugs all seam to be firing fine and blue arcs.

I popped the distributor cap off and spun the rotor it can defiantly spin more then a 1/4inch with light pressure and springs right back to where it was. I would estimate more like 3/8ths of rotation. again with light pressure I was not forcing it.