Engine is a 350.

Will it damage anything by cranking the engire to get it close to 8 degress advanced timing before dropping in the distributor?

Thanks

Why not just use a breaker bar to turn it by hand? You can get it dead on that way. Just make sure that number 1 cylinder is on its compression stroke when aligning the timing marks.

Yeah, you can use the starter, but there really shouldn't be a need to.

Ed remember it will come up to that timing mark twice, once when #1 is firing and again when #6 is firing. Make sure you know which cylinder is on the compression stroke and align the rotor accordingly. You will also need to align the oil pump shaft to get the distributer to drop all the way in. Just an FYI when the marks on the timing gears are aligned for installation you are at TDC for cylinder #6.

That's the best desciption I've heard. If I pull #1 and #6 plugs, insert a screw driver, finding that 1 is higher than 6, does that mean I'm firing plug #1? That would make sense to me. Thanks.

No they will both be up, one on compression the other on exhaust. You will have to feel the #1 plug hole for compression as the engine turns.

Ed,
1 and 6 both come up at the same exact time. Put your finger in the #1 plug hole and have someone bump the starter. When you feel air pressure it means #1 is coming up on its compression stroke. Other option is to watch the valves if you have the valve covers off. WHen the #1 intake valve has closed, it is getting ready to come up on its compression stroke.
By the way, it wont hurt a thing to bump it over with the starter.

When you do get the distributor in, you may find that it won't quite go all the way down. That's because it has to engage the oil pump drive. That's usually the only time I use the starter. I bump the starter while holding downward pressure on the distributor to engage the oil pump drive. Put the cap on, but don't connect the coil wires. That way, you don't get a shock, and you won't have the rotor tearing flesh off of your hand.

If the engine is on a stand or there's no battery power, I use the hold down clamp with a slight longer bolt (so as not to strip or pull threads) and turn the engine over by hand until the distributor drops. It's kind of hard to turn the engine over with one hand while holding the distributor down with the other, so using the clamp to slight pressure on the base of the distributor helps. You don't need to tighted the bolt a lot, just snug.

Once you've done this a few times, you'll find a way that works best for you.

You know, I've read a lot of posts on the subjects covered here and have never come away with as a complete understanding you guys provided.
Many thanks!!

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