just cant get the car to run right
You can put the distributor in any position, as long as you move the shaft with it; if it is timed, it is timed.
I disagree. Not only does the spark need to fire at the correct time relative to the crank, the distributor rotor must be pointed at the correct spark plug. If in between 2 towers, it can fire the wrong cylinder, termed "rotor phasing".
If you have a factory distributor, either with points (early) or magnetic pickup ("reluctor wheel", later), the phasing should be correct if you install the "intermediate shaft" at the correct clocking. The FSM shows how (below).
Step 1 is to bring cyl#1 to TDC, based on the timing mark on the damper. Remove the dist. cap and verify that the rotor is pointing at either #1 or #6. The FSM shows that the slot on the int. shaft should point directly at the intake bolt next to #1 cylinder (driver' side). If not, your phasing won't be correct. Of course, you must know whether #1 or #6 is on the compression stroke, but since your engine runs, your rotor can't be 180 off (some claim it still runs but poorly, I wonder how).
Even better, remove the #1 spark plug and hold your finger in the hole and feel the pressure rise to verify #1 is on compression. Better still, stick a wire in (bend so it can't fall in) and note the max position of the cylinder to insure your damper mark didn't slip (rubber fails).
The very best way to verify phasing is to cut a hole in an old dist. cap in-line with a rotor tower and shine a timing light clamped on that spark wire. Insure the rotor points directly at the tower. It will shift ~15 deg w/ vacuum advance, but shouldn't shift from engine speed.
Even if you install the shaft per FSM, the phasing could still be off if you installed an after-market pickup such as Pertronix Ignitor or Crane Cams optical. Less likely with Pertronix since it only fits one way. Crane has many optical wheels and pickup mounts, so you must verify. I dealt with that last week in my Dart. When I got it perfect (Mopar dist.), my vacuum advance was aligned similar to rp23g7's photo, though "about" isn't good enough to know.
