Quote Originally Posted by Henry Rifle
The timing mark comes up to the pointer twice. Once at TDC compression, and once at TDC exhaust. You want to set the distributor near (just before) TDC compression.

Put your thumb over the #1 spark plug hole (or slightly plug it with a small sandwich plastic baggie.) Turn the crank with a wrench or bump the starter and watch as the timing mark comes up. When the compression pushes your thumb (or the baggie) off the hole, and the timing mark comes to about 10* before the timing mark, that's where you set the distributor. Point the rotor to the #1 spark plug terminal, then wire it up.

Firing order 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 clockwise.

Thanks for the information, I will save me some frustration.