I'm putting the engine back into the truck and need to know the correct procedure for installing the distributor .... I neglected to mark anything when I took it out.
Thanks

 

Note where the cap retention clips are positioned and where #1 is.




You need to bring #1 to TDC with valves closed, make sure the TDC timing mark on the crank pulley is under the pointer, drop the distributor in and line up the rotor with #1 in the cap - this should be pointing almost straight back to the firewall. This should get it close enough to start, then you can set the timing with a light as per procedure - I think it's 10 BTDC with the SPOUT connector disconnected at idle.

 

With the timing marks lined up the #1 piston is at the top and it could be on the exhaust stroke or the compression stroke. So, if you don't have the #1 piston on the compression stroke you can have the timing 180 degrees out.

 

That's why I said with valves closed, if you have the valve cover off you can see that. The exhaust valve will be open on the top of the exhaust stroke.