i marked the dist housing @ the #1 wire position. for practice i turned the old engine to the point where the flywheel mark is at the top, centered on the case parting line. slack on i&e valves. if i do the same on the new engine, set the dist rotor to the marked line and slide it in, this should get me in the ballpark for spark?

k

You could have that distributor rotated 270º for all it cares... As long as you're setting your static timing with the engine on TDC #1 and the rotor pointing to the #1 Mark and your wires are in the right order.

basically what i said in my PM i think lol

i left the dist clamp on the mallory when i pulled it, so i think getting to tdc on 1 and bolted in everything should be fine for the fire up. thanks guys.

k