318 LA Timing
To set your distributor up:
1. It needs to have the rotor pointing to the #1 spark plug terminal at TDC.
2. You have to be on the compression stroke. Pull the #1 plug and rotate the engine by hand. It will push air out as you near TDC on the marker.
3. Check step 1 above.
It is easy when you are rebuilding an engine to check true TDC and the centerline of your cam. It is a lot of work to check them once it is together.