1..There is no such thing as 360 out.
2.. An engine WILL NOT fire or run 180 out. It WILL backfire violently up through the carb sometimes.
3....The easiest way to set up a cam is dot to dot, AKA cam dot "down" and engine dot 'up." You really should degree the cam. Now, with that setting, if you do not rotate the engine, it is ready to fire on no.6. In order to set the dist in on no1, rotate the crank ONE turn. Now the dots will both be up
4...As said above you must be on the compression stroke. There are only two ways to tell. IF you have the rocker covers still off, you can bring up the marks to TDC, and look at the no1 and no6 valves, One set will be partly open, and the other set will be closed. That is the cylinder that is ready to fire.
Usually, I use the "finger in no1 hole" method. Bump or wrench the engine until you start to feel compression AND THEN STOP. Now carefully bring up the marks NOT TO TDC, but rather, "where you want" initial timing, AKA 8-10 BTC or whatever. Set in the dist so the rotor is pointing "just coming to" the no. 1 contact in the tower. Now rotate the dist CW to retard the dist. If you have points, slowly rotate it CCW (advanced) until the points just break open. If you have breakerless, bring it slowly around until the reluctor and pickup are aligned. Not install the cap, snug down the clamp so you can still move it, and STAR IT UP.