How Do I know If I am on TDC for number 1 or 4
 

How do I know if I am 360 out of TDC for number one?? Also, should the valve be loose on number 4 when on TDC for number one??

You mean 180 degrees out? When you are at TDC on number one the rotor should be pointing to the notch in the distributor.

Re: How Do I know If I am on TDC for number 1 or 4
 

No

Re: How Do I know If I am on TDC for number 1 or 4
 

The valves should have clearance (loose) on number one, and one or more tight on number four.

-Wayne

Pop the distributor cap - the rotor will point at the notch on the dizzy housing for TDC #1

(which, I just noticed Kurt had already said)

AFJuvat

Alrighty. Thanks guys,

one more question on this. If the valve has started to lift when on TDC for number one then how could it have clearance?? Right now what I am dealing with is both of the valves for number one and for number four are tight at the same time and they are loose at the same time. It seems to make sense sense the piston travel is almost the same on number 1 and four. TELL ME WHY I AM WRONG!!! PLEASE

I lurk on the 356 registry list....some guy is selling a screw in whistle for #1 cylinder. When the whistle stops....TDC......

Maybe this will help:
At TDC for #1 both valves on #1 are closed. I.e. rockers will be "loose."
At TDC for #1 not only has the valve not "started to lift" the intake valve won't open until the engine has turned another 360 degrees (and the cam 180).
At TDC for #1 one of the valves on #4 is open, I can't remember which.
At TDC for #1 the pistons for #1 and #4 are at the top of the cylinder i.e. you cannot tell TDC for #1 from #4 by the position of the piston so the whistle thing won't work.
-Chris

Just watch the intake valve for #1...when it's open you are on the downwards intake stroke....after it closes and the piston is coming to the top (timing mark comes to the top) then you are on the compression stroke and the plug fires at or near the top.
Bob

You can go into a thousand more complicated explanations, why not just pop the distributor cap (only 2 push and turn operations) and you will find out which one it is, 4 or 1.

because i am in the middle of a rebuild and havn't dropped the distrib. in yet. BUT, I think what I did was get 180 degrees off on the right cam. What happens now is both the intake valves for one and four open at the same time. Does this sound correct to you all? Did I just get off 180 on the right side??

Yes, it sounds like you timed the right cam incorrectly. Easy mistake your first time.
-Chris

Well,

Since you are in the middle of a rebuild, then the only way to do this is to ... back out and repeat.

TDC number 1 means the rocker is just a little loose. If the number 4 is loose too, then that number 4 (all 4-6) is off and needs to be redone.