just need a quick confirmation on my idiocy

Yes, go back to the beginning.

It's easier to rotate the engine with all plugs out. Follow directions above for finding top dead center on the compression stroke. Then see what cap Plug Wire Post Terminal the rotor is pointing to. That plug wire should be running to #1 cylinder (grill side driver's side). The next plug wire should run to #8 cylinder (firewall side passenger side) see diagram above. 18436572.

I'll say this. I bought a distributor to replace one that had a bent shaft. The distributor is "clocked" 90⁰ out from a "normal " distributor...in that the rotor is not in line with the slot in the intermediate shaft. It is 90⁰ off. I just pulled and rotated the intermediate shaft to set it correctly.