Weird Timing issue on my 318 V8 5.2L

good read at the link below. same idea. verifying the rotor position at TDC, and then making that the #1 plug...and then setting base timing w/o the vac advance hooked up. etc
Pace Performance: How to Swap/Drop in Your New Aftermarket Distributor! And Verifying Rotor Position

(looks like 73 swinger beat me to it!)