initial startup of rebuilt engine

[guys71cuda]

i am having a hard time understanding this!ok so i have someone crank the motor until my thumb is blown out of # 1 cylinder spark plug hole. That is compression stroke. then i turn the crank to line up the notch on the balancer with 0 degrees (tdc) on the timing cover. wouldnt rotating the engine mess up having the engine on the compression stroke? then i put the distributor in with the rotor pointing towards #1 cylinder. the dist will only go in 1 way or the other once the distributor drive gear is installed. or should i remove the gear until i have the first two things correct? sorry if i am overthinking this but i am completely confused. thanks


eric

[Chryco Psycho]

it is not that complicated but it can seem to be
bumping the engine until your thumb is blown out is correct , then the timing mark should be very close or just past , what I do is rotate the engine back to about 30* Before TDC & line up the reluctor & pick up coil to time it initially .
 as for the position the rotor points #1 wire can be anywhere on the cap , it really doesn`t matter but if you prefer 1 position you have to remove the dist & unwind the oil pump drive out of the cam & rotate it back to where you want the rotor to point for #1 wire