MSD problems

Not sure what you mean by the 8 fingers unless you mean the vanes that the sensor see's (If that is the case it should be close enough to start, or at least act like it's going to)

You might want to remove the number 1 plug and crank the engine (bump it) till it blows your finger out of the plug hole.
Then bring it on up till you are on the zero degrees mark on the damper.
The rotor should be pointing right at the number one spark plug wire on the cap.

The distributor rotates clockwise so with the engine at TDC on number one, add the wires for cylinders 18436572 in that order, and moving clockwise around the distributor.

If you don't know how to bring it up to TDC on number one, then some Googling is in order.

The blue and brown wires are the original ignition supply wires that went to the ballast resistor.
One has volts when the key is in the start position, and the other wire has volts in the run position of the key.
These two wires connected together will be a good ignition system source. (some even use a relay to supply even better amps to the ignition and just use those two wires to activate the relay.) but this is usually not needed.

My HEI for example, runs right off those exact two wires connected together.

A timing light connected to the number one plug wire is a great quick indicator as to if you are close, even if the engine isn't running so you might try that just to get an idea if it's even close.
I doubt it is from the sounds of it.