So the other day I took my distributor off to check my ignition coil inside....never made it that far since I couldn't get the stupid rotor off due the screw looking kinda stripped. So I figured I'd scuff up the cap and rotor contact points a bit while they were accessible with some sandpaper. Well I never made a mark as to how the distributor was lined up and so now I think my timing is off. I actually put the distributor back in the wrong way since it wouldn't start for a while and I figured I was not at #1 cylinder at DTC. So I put it back in correctly but now it's starting albeit running super rough and eventually dies. In order to check the timing I need the car to idle on it's own, so do I rotate the distributor clockwise (if facing it from the passenger front fender), I assume advancing the timing, to where there is a gap to the right of the top washer/bolt assembly???

HELP!

 

thats retarding your timing you have to rotate it towards the firewall to advance it but to me it sounds like you have your firing order wrong. what year and what model is your car??