Just can't get the timing right and it has no bolt 1980 Chrysler lebaron 3.7l
But when I'm on tdc the Piston will be all the way up
You wrote it in the future tense,and without punctuation; so not sure you mean you understand, or you are questioning, or just stating a fact....so
It's supposed to be; TDC means Top Dead Center
But here's the thing; it takes two complete revolutions to complete the 4-stroke cycle. So at TDC the piston could be at the top of the compression cycle or it could be at the end of the exhaust/beginning of intake cycle; also called the overlap period. Make sure the piston is at TDC #1 and on the compression cycle.
But the cam also has to be in phase with the crank so that all the cycles are occurring at the correct time. The easiest way to spot that without taking a lot of stuff apart , is to make sure that split-overlap is occurring at about TDC, but one full revolution before... or after TDC compression. It is common practice to use #1 for this, because if all the parts are correct then you can use the balancer to verify this. But if the balancer or chain cover are not correct then it's hopeless, so really you can use any cylinder for checking split overlap, so long as the piston you are using is at TDC/on the overlap cycle. It's just (usually) easier to use #1 or #6, due to the timing marks (usually) being there.Split overlap, the point where both intake and exhaust valves are open about the same amount, should occur within a few degrees of TDC, usually before the piston reaches TDC, and within 4* to perhaps 8*.
If the camchain has jumped (or is broke or the cam is broken), then split overlap can be anywhere; which has to be fixed first.
If the balancer mark is not correct,but the balancer is correct, and the locating key is not torn off; then you will have to make a new correct TDC #1 mark.
The crank drives the cam, drives the gear, drives the I-shaft,drives the D-shaft, drives the flyweight cam, drives the rotor..The gear on the intermediate shaft has to be pinned to that oil-pump drive, so the Distributor driveshaft remains timed to the cam at all times.
So if the cam is synced to the crank but the rotor is out-to-lunch and you didn't put it there, then the I-shaft should come out for inspection.
Happy HotRodding
