350 tpi Disrtibutor placement!!!!!

I was wondering if anyone knows how to install a distributor for a 91 350 tpi. I tried to line up every thing But it still does not run right. It's a fresh start rebuild and I'm just not sure which way it goes. At TDC, what position is the distributor supposed to be pointing at: #1 or between #1 and #8 etc... Also what is the degree of timing supposed to be set at when idleing: 6 degrees BTDC or somthing else? Maybe it's the module.I'm not sure. All this computer stuff I'm not to Up to date on. The books don't tell you much.

I got a new GM stock chip finding out that was not the problem. I would appreciate any feedback on this if you can. Thanks.

When I do a distributor install, I get #1 up on the compression stroke. I put a mark on the dist housing where the rotor lines up to the #1 plug wire terminal. I stab the dist and line up the mark. If it fails to stab in all the way I keep the rotor to the retarted side of the mark and then turn the crank w/a rtchet untill the dist. falls in all the way.

Turn the engine, line up the balancer to the 3-degree mark and check where the rotor points. If the #1 mark lines up, install the hold-down clamp. Next, remove the rotor and line up the points in the reluctor wheel w/the points in the pick-up coil housing. This will preset the timing pretty close to factory specs (advancing the timing 3degs. will usually even out to 0degs. while running).
You can probably get by with 3 to 4 degrees advancement at idle (with the timing connector unplugged). If you advance it too far, the computer will pick up preignition clatter and retard the timing down to a safe level. That would defeat the purpose of advancing it in the first place. --A little is good, a lot is bad--
Sounds like you might have a plug wire out of sync. Pay close attention to the #5 & #7 sequence.
Another little performance trick is to adjust the throttle position sensor voltage to the maximum allowable range (while in the closed position).

Hope this helps,
---TEX---

ok, here is the deal, the car is computer controled, and thus, thinks it knows more than you do about how it should run ;) so you have to knock it out. find the in-line connector on the wiring harnes, over the back of the passenger side front wheel well near the firewall under the hood of the car. this is the computer controled distributor hook up, you need to unplug it to set the timing. turn over the engine so that the number one cylender is at TDC, then put in the distributor so that the rotor is looking at the number one cylinder post. i prefer to just do a little more work and shimmy the distributor arond till i get it in, but hotrods way may be easyer, im just chicken shit and dont like turning over the engine unless i have to untill its all put back together. as far as initial timing, with that inline connector unpluged it should be set at 0 degrees advance/retard. thats the beauty of the computer controlled distributor, it will put in the ammount of advance and retard it needs. after its all bolted together, turn off the ignition, and reconnect the inline connector next to the firewall, and disconnect the battery for ten seconds to clear the code 42 that is set every time that plug is undone. reconnect the battery, and start her up. good luck.

also, if you are having trouble lining up the rotor where it should be, notice that when you drop in the distributor, as it meshes with the cam gear it rotates clockwise about an inch or so. so before you put it in, rotate it counter clockwise, and as it meshes it will rotate to the point where it should be.

Thank you all for your posts. I will try all sugestions and post again to let you know how it went. Thanks again!!!

Well it turns out that my distributor was correctly installed. I had two bad fuel injectors. I swapped the fuel rails knowing that my old injectors were working great and WOW!! Started right up. But now I need a knock sensor. The code came up. So again, thanks for all your help everyone. I'm really glad all of you came through so fast !!!!!!!!