I checked TDC with a piston stop and halfway between cw and ccw marks the damper was at zero with the timing cover and distrib rotor was at #1 of cap after moving because of the misaligned distrib shaft.8)
What is a piston stop? Might be a stupid question but never heard the term. Generally had the head off and measured with a dial indicator to determine exact tdc. I know both valve closed on compression stroke.