MSD 6al issues - bypass ballast resistor

Pull no1 plug

"Bump" engine around with your finger in the hole and feel for the start of compression. You may have to "go round" a couple of times if you are not familiar

As soon as you start to feel compression, start looking for "the mark" which should be coming up anytime.

Do NOT set the marks at TDC, but rather where it is that you want the timing, IE 10, 15 BTC, etc.

At this point, the rotor should just be right at the no1 plug tower.

Do you have a timing light?

The thing is, if the engine runs at all, the above should not be necessary. Just set it with a light.

THE OTHER THING is that if you have not moved the distributor, and if the engine was running OK before, then this DEFINATELY sounds like reversed pickup wires.