Questions about timing a 318

what i do is pull the #1 plug and put your finger over it. crank until you feel the pressure building up and then set the distributor pointing to the #1 piston. Remember the piston goes up 2 times, one to compress and another to push the air out the exhaust. I cant tell you how many times i have set it wrong but after the finger tip it has worked fine.

You should set timing once the engine is warm.