Trying to find TDC on 351W

[Starliner]

I am putting in a distributor and need to start from scratch.
Here's what (I think) I know:
Looks like the piston stop is most used.
18mm?
Rotate clockwise looking for compression stroke, (air coming out of #1 piston) till it stops. Mark the crank,
Turn counterclockwise until it stops again, mark the crank.
In between the two Mark's is TDC.
Does this look correct?
Is the piston stop tool the preferred method?
Thanks.

[Gary Lewis]

A piston stop is the most accurate.  But using a straw or something like that should also work.  Your damper should be accurate unless it has slipped, and if it has slipped it is likely to be quite a ways off instead of a degree or two.

[Starliner]

Thanks Gary.
Maybe I will use the straw or a hose since not one local parts store sells a piston stop.

[Gary Lewis]

I made my piston stop.  I ground off the ring that holds the porcelain in on an old plug.  Then I drilled and tapped the plug to take something like a 1/4-20 screw and used a carriage bolt since they have a rounded head.

[Dean_L]

I have a 351W in my 65 mustang, when I found TDC, I rotated the engine feeling for air from #1 cylinder.  When I could feel air coming up, I inserted a screwdriver, as the screw driver was moving up, I stopped at about 8 deg before TDC. I set distrib to be hitting #1 spark plug wire, and was able to fire it up.  I then tuned in the timing using my timing light to be around at 34 degrees when revved to around 4000 rpm

[ArdWrknTrk]

Plugs most likely have a 14mm 1.25 thread.

[Starliner]

Thanks, I did the Dean L method. Runs great now.

[Gary Lewis]

[Dean_L]

Awesome!