[71 Ventura II]

Provided your using the #1 cylinder for your timing, aka the dots on your timing set were both at 12'oclock.

Bring the engine to TDC #1 on the firing sroke. Now back the engine to read 10 degrees BTDC. Decide how you want your distributor oriented and select the #1 terminal. As you install the distributor, the MOST IMPORTANT aspect is the mating of the distributor gear to cam gear, which happens above/before the oil pump shaft contact, to point the rotor at the #1 terminal on the cap. The position of the oil pump shaft does not matter in terms of timing the engine.

As long as you can "Mesh" the distributor gear to the cam gear while getting the rotor to point to the #1 terminal on the cap you are phased properly. MORE than likely the distributor housing WILL NOT sit flush with the block. All that's required is to slowly rotate the engine until the distributor drops down the final 1/4" onto the oil pump shaft, sitting flush to the block. Leaning over the engine, trying to guess where the oil-pump shaft needs to point is a waist of time, not to mention frustrating.

Remember, once the distributor and cam are phased/meshed you've achieved the proper install, now seat the dizzy, and finish by setting the timing with the light. Turning the engine "slowly" to seat the distributor will not change the installed position in terms of timing the engine. Any questions let me know. JD