I just stabbed my distributor in my 302 and I forgot if it spins clockwise or counter. Also do I point it at #1 or straight down the middle of the block. Someone at work told me to aim it down the middle of the engine, at least thats what he read in his mustang book. Its an 84 btw cfi.
Counterclockwise is correct for the dizzy. Engine turns clockwise.
You need to position the engine so the #1 cylinder is at tdc at the end of the compression stroke (NOT tdc at the end of the exhaust stroke). Then stab the dizzy so that the rotor points at the #1 plug -- or you can position the timing pointer at 10 degrees btdc - and point the rotor at #1, that'll get you a little closer. AFter it starts, time it with a light.
Take the coil wire out of the distributor. Pull #1 plug, put your finger in the spark plug hole. Have someone crank the engine until it starts to blow air past your finger. Stop cranking, turn the engine by hand (breaker bar on the harmonic balancer bolt, or put the car in gear and push) until the TDC mark on the harmonic balancer lines up with the pointer on the passenger side of the engine. Loose the distributor hold down bolt, remove the clamp, cap and wires, disconnect the wiring harness. Pull the distributor straight up.
The following re-install depends on the engine being lined up as in the previous instructions.
To re-install, turn the distributor rotor to point to #1 cylinder position on the cap. The#1 position is about 11 o'clock if 6 o' clock is the front of the engine. Line the rotor up with it pointing at the #1 spark plug position on the cap and drop it in: you may have to twist the shaft some to get it to engage the oil pump shaft. Then remove the SPOUT connector plug, and use a timing light to set the timing. The SPOUT is the dangling connector on the distributor harness on stangs made prior to 94 and with a computer controlled engine. 10* is stock for most 5.0s' 12*-14* is good for more pep if you are not into NO2 or power adders.