72 360 first start question

with the breaker bar move the dampener till the rocker arms on either the #1 or the #6 cyl you are working with are at the same height (amt of open or closed). go back & forth a bit till you get it (the height) dead on. at that point the dampener slit must be within a degree or two of TDC on the timing marks. this will confirm (hopefully) that you are good dot to dot and there ain't no gross errors in the crank keyway (wouldn't be that IF it ran OK prior to rebuild ex for being worn out) or the new timing gear keyway slot or where the dot was (mis)stamped or if a person used the wrong dot or a cam can be fubared (rare tho).
FYI....This point of equal lift may as much as 6 or 8 degrees off TDC if the if the cam has different durations for intake and exhaust and had ground in advance, plus errors in the damper markings. If it is up near 15 degrees off or more, then look for something to be a tooth off.