[MARKDTN]

You may be getting the cart before the horse. If you are not getting spark on all cylinders it makes no difference what the timing is-it won't run. Sounds like a bad distributor. My advice figure out spark first, then worry about timing. And I agree with finding a real GM one and it will probably work. As far as timing, pull the #1 plug. Roll it to TDC on the balancer. Back it up a few degrees. Put a wadded up paper towel in the spark plug hole. Rotate forward. If it blows it out you are in the right place. If it doesn't, pull the paper towel out, rotate a full revolution and try again. One or the other should be close enough to start it. When you get here, the rotor should point to #1. Best advice when pulling a distributor is rotate it to the #1 firing position before you pull it. That way you have a baseline to easily put it back. Good luck with it. (PS-make sure you put the plug wires on in the correct firing order and correct direction)