Best way to get everything in and situated with unknown timing and distributor issues, so that you KNOW everything is as it should be is to do it like this:

Pop off the oil cap, and rotate the engine clockwise manually with a socket wrench until you watch the intake rocker arm on the #1 cylinder (this will be the 2nd rocker arm from the front) push down, then back up. Take out the #1 spark plug and stick a coat hanger in there and continue to rotate the engine until you feel the piston go as high as it will using the coat hanger (TDC of the compression stroke). Leave the engine in that spot and pull off the distributor cap. The rotor should be pointing directly at the #1 post of the distributor cap. If it's not you need to pull the dizzy and get it there. Then working counter clockwise on the dizzy cap, work the plug wires according to firing order #1, #3, #4, #2 to each cylinder. Lock down the dizzy, replace everything, and it should start up first try. If not, have someone rotate the dizzy left and right until it starts easily, then go back in and adjust the timing.

I have had to do this MANY MANY MANY times on my A15 if I pull the dizzy and forget or lose track of the correct position. After doing it once, you can usually get it all done again within 5 minutes or less. Maybe this should be a Tech Article??? Good luck!

-Andy