I have a 1969 Ford Thunderbird 429 Thunderjet and replaced the distributor with a stock distributor with a Pertronix electronic ignition. In the process of troubleshooting why it wouldn't start, we turned the distributor.
While I was at work, my brother and a neighbor suspected the timing was 180 degrees out. Considering how timing is set by making sure the #1 piston is all the way up, I was wondering if there is more to it than simply making sure the #1 piston is all the way at the top. Is there something else to consider in terms of the position of the pistons when installing a distributor?
I've seen on forums where some posters suggest to question-askers that they have their timing "180 out", but it seems to me that is very unlikely to happen if you're at top dead center? Is it possible for the piston to be all the way up but you're still not at top dead center?