1979 Z28 Camaro idling problems...HELP!

Hey guys, i was wondering if anyone could help me. my 1979 z28 camaro is having idling problems. i was checking my distributor for starting problems. it ended up being the spark plugs, but before checking out the spark plugs, i disconnected the top half of the distibutor that shows the ignition coil, but forgot to mark where the cap was originally placed. which was not so very smart. i tried adjusting it by 1/8 or 1/4 inch turns clockwise and counter clockwise to find the right idling speed, but my camaro would rev high passing red line, but i would shut the engine off before that happened or it would just not start acting like the battery was dead, but it was good because it was reading 12 volts. is there any easy way of setting the distributor back to correct idle. if that's not the problem then do you guys know of any others and solutions? THANKS!

That's what timing lights are made for.

Hey guys, i was wondering if anyone could help me. my 1979 z28 camaro is having idling problems. i was checking my distributor for starting problems. it ended up being the spark plugs, but before checking out the spark plugs, i disconnected the top half of the distibutor that shows the ignition coil, but forgot to mark where the cap was originally placed. which was not so very smart. i tried adjusting it by 1/8 or 1/4 inch turns clockwise and counter clockwise to find the right idling speed, but my camaro would rev high passing red line, but i would shut the engine off before that happened or it would just not start acting like the battery was dead, but it was good because it was reading 12 volts. is there any easy way of setting the distributor back to correct idle. if that's not the problem then do you guys know of any others and solutions? THANKS!
Go here.. http://www.thirdgen.org/settingtiming

He's not setting the timing on a third gen. This is a second gen car.

Pull the vacuum line from the distributor, plug the line, hook up the timing light and set the timing per the underhood sticker's setting.

sorry i know this is a little old, but if u only removed the cap on a HEI distributor, it only goes on one way.the timing doesnt need to be reset.

:1:

But was it re-installed correctly, ie all the way seated.