Brokenhead,
That fella was ME! You saved me the trouble of outing myself. ;-)
Jim, everyone's got you headed in the right direction. If you HAVE turned the engine over with the distributor out, then you'll need to find Top Dead Center, which sounds more intimidating than it is. Let us know when you get to that point, and we'll get you going.
Otherwise, as stated, you've got a 50-50 chance. If you remember which direction the rotor was pointing when you removed it, replace it facing the same direction, and you oughta be ok. FWIW, the shaft usually turns a tiny bit as it engages the camshaft gear, so start a little off of where you plan on ending up. (can't remember which way, I think start counter-clockwise a few degrees). And yeah, be sure it's all the way down! If it's got oil pressure when it starts, you got it right!
One other thing - you'll hear of several different methods of checking for vacuum leaks. Most common is spraying WD-40 or some such around potential leak areas. Personally, I like an open but not lit propane torch bottle - it's a little cleaner. Obviously, be careful, but holding the tip around leaking areas will reveal by an increase in rpms. Of course, this pre-supposes the engine is running to begin with . . .
Report back on your progress. Sounds like you're on the right track.
-Michael
