What have I messed up now? Timing question
 

My car quit on me a couple of weeks ago, and hasn't started since. I was not getting any spark, the green wire from the distributor was black, checking it seemed to fail. I ordered and got a new green wire.
Today I worked on putting in the new wire, pulled the distributor to remove the old connector, put in the new wire.
Put the distributor back in, put on a new rotor and cap. Put the wires back on the cap, I'm as sure as I can be that all the wires are in the right place, I labeled every wire before I started.

At fires attempt to start, was badly missfiring..... Can the distributor be in wrong? I rotated the engine to the z1 mark with the rotor on cylinder 1, before I pulled the distributor. I dont know if it was compression or exhaust, does that matter if the distributor was on the cylinder 1 mark when I put it back in?
Do I need to pull the distributor rotate the engine to the compression stroke for 1 and put the distributor back in?

On the upside looks like my fix to the green wire has got the plugs to spark again, although at the wrong time apparently.

Your timing is likely off.

Pull the valve covers, make sure it is 1 TDC by wiggling the rocker arm. If there is any movement at all, then it is top dead center, compression stroke.

You may need somebody to help start the car while you check the timing of the engine with a timing light. You can rotate the dizzy until the timing is right, and then lock it down.

Was the rotor pointed to the notch in the edge of the distributor when you pulled the distributor?

If not then take the distributor out and rotate the engine back to TDC for cylinder #1 and put your distributor back in so that the rotor is aligned with the notch.

The distributor rotates slightly when inserting it, so you want to insert it so that as it is fully seated the rotor lines up with the notch.

You sort of have to "lead" the placement of the rotor, due to the way the dizzy engages the gears, and will finally seat with the rotor position changing a little the further in it is inserted. Once you stab the distributor the first time, you will see how far off it will become once fully seated, then you can allow for this movement when you note how far the rotor was turned when seated fully. Most engines that have the gear type of drive on the distributor will move the rotor at least one plug wire position when the dizzy is installed, some even a little more, some a little less.

I like the way my Mopars are, they have just a blade tip, so you are either correct, or 180 degrees off. Good luck!! Tony.

Another thing, I marked the position of the distributor before pulling in out. If you imagine the nut that is loosened for adjusting the timing, the distributor was rotated as far as it will go clockwise. I should put it back exactly there correct?

Jay

Correct, put it back the way it was when it was running, then adjust the timing until it runs smooth, carefully bring the engine to operating temperature 180 deg F. and adjust the idle, then check and adjust the timing and the timing advance.

Just a non update, wasn't able to get back to working on the car yesterday, which is probably a good thing, need to digest these replies first.

Thanks for the help.

Jay