340 engine timing issue

Not to be a jerk....but did you mark the line on the crank pulley with a crayon or something..that mark is hard to see on the crankwhen running....you can't see that mark at all on the crank no matter howfar you turn the dist in both directions???....This is a small block v-8 correct....take # 1 spark plug out, driver side front and turn engine over by hand w/ at 1 1/4 socket, put your fingure over hole until you hear air trying to push your fingure out...that is coming up on TDC top dead center compression...put and long screw driver in the hole and slowly turn engine over by hand until the screw driver stops coming up...that is tdc...remove dist cap..should be pointing at #1 spark plug wire on dist cap....if so good....It sounds like to me it will not be pointing their and you may have to remove dist and take a long straight screw driver and turn that gear down in the dist hole..do not lose the oil pump shaft down the hole it will pizz you off.... so it lines up with dist shaft facing #1.....if all is good their install dist it should be close to # 1 cylinder.....vacuum pull should be parallel to windshield....recheck timing you should be able to see line now....Let me know if tis works or if you can;t understand what i am saying.....call me 607-647-9547....oh yea firing order is 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2