Advice Needed - Can't Start Rebuilt 273

UPDATE Friday Morning:
I pulled the left valve cover and found TDC for #1 by watching the intake valve just start to open. Then I backed up the crank a bit to get the timing mark right at zero. Popped the distributor cap - yes, 180 out. I had left the plugs out overnight to dry everything out - even blew air into the cylinders - wire brushed the plugs. Reinstalled everything - retraced the wires to verify correct firing order. I hit it with a bit of starting fluid and - NO START! I got a couple of backfires out the headers, but other than that it doesn't even try to kick over now. So after trying a while, adjusting the distributor each time, I now have wet plugs and a weak battery. I did pull a wire and hook it up to a plug to make sure I had spark.

I am just at a loss. It makes it worse to have this frustration after working a midnight shift. I was so sure it would fire right up when I corrected the distributor. Arrrghhhh.