So very stuck...

Like 66fyssh said, the rotor can point any darned place as long as THAT place is where you put #1 plug wire on dist cap. AMD follow cw around cap with 18436572.
It doesn't really matter where the rotor is pointing as long as the tower in the cap has the spark plug wire going to #1 cylinder. Having the rotor pointing a little more towards the #1 plug will give you more clearance for the vacuum advance running into the firewall. If you move the intermediate shaft so the rotor points more towards the #1 plug, you will need to pull the plug wires off the cap and rotate one tower. Like I mentioned, the rotor could point towards the firewall as long as the plug wire over the tower on the cap is running to #1 plug while at TDC and you follow the 18436572 firing order. Hope that makes sense!!