brian,you wont the timing mark to line up with the 0 on the timing tab. that could be on the lift or right side of the timimg cover. the timing mark comes up on the compresson or exhaust stroke, thats why you blow you finger off the plug hole. the next thing is getting the dist lined up, dont worry about where the oil pump rod is when you drop the dist in, let it go down far as it can and then have someone bump the starter over and when the dist. and oil pump rod line up the dist. will drop down all the way. when you get the dist in you wont be able to turn the rotor but you can turn the dist to line up the rotor to the plug wire. if your wires are long enough you can get your comp stroke up, drop the dist. in with the rotor anywhere you wont it and then put the # one wire where ever the rotor button is pointing. it makes no dif. where # one is in the cap as long as you run the rest of the wires in the right timing order.