Re: 302 / 888 #1 cyl?
Also noteworthy... the 302/888 has 351W heads (hence 351W firing order). I've head (but can't confirm) that the 351W distributor will not fit the 302 block, so make sure you get a 302 distriibutor (marine of course). As described above, rotate crank to 0 deg TDC for the compression stroke (you might be able to fit your pinky into the spark plug hole and feel the piston). Look at your cap and see if it has a mark for #1 and use that to reference #1, otherwise pick one. With the distributor off the engine, fit the cap on the distributor, and mark the spot on the distributor that roughly coresponds to #1 from the cap. Move the rotor to the #1 mark on the distributor. Drop the distributor into the block with the rotor/#1 mark pointing to the #1 cylinder to ease wire routing. As you drop the distributor into the engine, the part of the distro that engages the oil pump probably wont be aligned. Turn the engine over by hand a bit (shouldn't be more than 1/8 turn or so) and the distro will drop in all the way. Connect the plug wires in the correct firing order (13726548) courterclockwise when looking down at the engine. Start the engine, and adjust the base timing with a timing light.
