Scott,
If this is not a new engine the timing chain is stretched to the poing where the timing mark on the damper and pointer on the block is all but useless. In that case use the following procedure: If that is true and you do not have a timing lite and the engine will start cold and hot you are close. Next - loosen the dist bolt a little - go in from the pass side to loosen. Might be a good time to get a dist wrench, will be handy in the coming years. After you have loosened up the bolt. Set the idle up to around 2100 rpm, put a vaccuum guage on the carb in place of the dist vac and turn the dist til you recv the highest vac reading on the guage. Bolt down the dist, return the rpm to normal and rehook up the vac line to the carb. The engine should be hot now. Shut off and try to restart. If it cranks easiely and fires up you are ok. IF not loosen the dist and retard a little. Bolt back down and try again. Setting up the idle a little when timing will allow optimum timing in high gear and better gas mileage. If you have a timing lite. Same procedure except set timing at idle, with vac pluged to carb. Loosen dist bolt turn to where the pointer on block and line on vib damper are at 6 degrees or 8 degrees. Verify the timing with the vac guage. You will quickly notice the vac guage will be your better guide if the timing chain is stretched (high mileage). Good luck we are here for you.
Tim
