Ok walking the line on hardcore not hardcore so id figure be safe and go here... chevy 350 going in my yj learning as i go. Engine has been built from scratch, and i am installing the msd distributor into it. The question is as far as i can tell the dist. is not marked so how do i tell what number one is on the dist. I have been told that if the engine is tdc on cylinder 1 then if i take the cap off there should be something pointing at 1 on the dist. I tried this and did not see anything. Anyone have a pic of this or knows exactly what i need to do please speak up.

thanks

Whichever terminal on the cap has the wire from #1 going to it is #1. Pick one.

RTFM!!!!!

This will usually get you running, and you can then work from there.

Go ahead and put you're wires on as logically as possible (and of course in the correct order).
Put #1 at TDC.
Now you need to get the rotor pointing at the terminal for #1. You can loosen and rotate the distributor for a slight change, or you may have to remove the distributor and re mesh the drive gears.

Something like that.
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This is a newby question all right. Glad your trying to to learn.
Hope I don't confuse you.
Rarely is the distributor cap marked because the location of #1 is a relative position.
First ... you were told it's at TDC .... not good enough, you have to be sure!
The #1 piston must be at the top and both valves closed. I assume your starter & battery is installed & coil wire removed to prevent starting. Look for the timing marks on crank pully & front of motor. With the timing mark at zero you are at TDC or 180 degrees off of TDC. Place your finger over sprark plug hole. Rotate motor with starter, just tap the starter until timing mark is at zero. If your at TDC, the compression stroke will blow your finger off the hole. If not, crank around one more time and it should happen then. With the #1 spark plug removed you can see the top of the piston assuming you can bend your neck enough and get a light in there. Now your at TDC. It may take you several rotations to get it. Look at the distributor rotor it is now pointing to the #1 position on the distributor cap. Connect the wire from the #1 plug wire to this point on the distrubtor cap. Now connect the remaining plug wires in their "firing order" (not numberical) around the cap. Re-install the #1 spark plug, connect your timing light up and re-connect your coil wire. You should be ready to start the motor and set timing.
Good luck.

I am helping soon to be Son-n-law restore a 67 Mustang. We ran into this same issue with distributor. It will work out, just don't be in a hurry. These guys will correct me if I am wrong (I am old and can't remember jack). Ford vehicles rotate counter clockwise and GM vehicles rotate clockwise. Knowing this will help you make sure all the wires are in correct order as once you locate and get #1 in time, the engine will be in time or close enough it should run if the other wires are in proper order. To confirm this, get the firing order for your engine, then you can simply locate wire going to #1 on distributor, then move one wire clockwise and follow it to the proper spark plug, once you get back to #1, engine should run.

Dont forget to index the oil pump with a flat screwdriver since it is driven off the distributor gear.