Swapped Distributor problems

[buddychiefguy]

I've searched around the forums, but have yet to find anything that really answers my questions so here is my specific problem.

I have a 1964 Chevy C10 which has a 1978 350 Small Block in it. When the 350 was installed a lot of the old equipment off of the 283 went along for the ride including the distributor.

This weekend I went to change out the old points system with a new electronic one (Pentronix Flamethrower II). I bought the entire distributor assembled and with the matching coil, rahter than a conversion kit as all the old parts were well worn. I made the swap and the motor is running, but not well. It will idle fine, but on acceleration it misses and it doesn't run well when timed anywhere between 6 and 12 degrees.


Here's what I did:

Wwhen I removed the old distributor I lined up my timing marks on the balancer to 6 degrees BTDC (what the motor was timed at. I removed the old cap and the rotor was pointed just before the #1 plug. (Actually pointed directly at the notch on the distributor cap where it lines up with the housing to seat properly.)

My first question is: Does the notch on the distributor cap always designate which plug contact is suppossed to be #1 or does it matter which wire you plug into as #1 as long as you have your firing order set properly? If it matters then I know what I did wrong

I ask this because that notch was on the front of the old distributor and about 3 or 4 plugs down on the new distributor. If that is the case then I know my problem becuase I ignored the notch and just lined up my rotor with the first contact to the front of the distributor. And that's basically what I did. The distributor dropped in and seated without a problem. Engine cranked fine, but the timing was WAY off. The timing mark was all the way on the other side from where the marks are. I rotated it back to 6 degrees and it idled fine, but runs like crap. Tried everything between 6 and 16 degrees and it does not run well. If it's low in gear and you go to accelarate it will pop and jump and it just has a knock to it like a plug is fouled (althought they are not).

Where did I go wrong and what is the best way to make this right. If I return the motor to TDC start my plug wires with #1 being at the notch on the cap and set my rotor to point to that contact and follow firing order will this rememdy my issues?

All help is greatly appreciated in advance...