I put it into gear and it dies.

You are confusing terms I believe. It makes no difference at all which direction the rotor is pointing at TDC as long as the number 1 cylinder is wired to that terminal on the cap. Number 1 can be any of the 8 pins on the cap. Put the engine at TDC compression, number 1 cylinder, and the rotor will point to a pin on the cap. Make that wire number 1. Follow around the cap with the wires in the firing order. Then start the engine and set the timing with a light around 12 degrees. Then (if the timing is stable and not jumping around) don’t touch it again.