This is tricky to answer without an actual picture to point to. Stand on the driver's side of the car. If you have the timing set correctly to begin with, the #1 position is in (about) the 4 o'clock position nearest the firewall. I just peeked at my engine to confirm this.
On a 1981 Pontiac 301 distributor, the number 1 position is typically located at the front of the engine, aligned with the rotor's position when the engine is at top dead center (TDC) on the compression stroke for cylinder number one. The distributor cap will have numbers or a marking indicating the cylinder order, with the number 1 usually positioned at the 5 o'clock or 6 o'clock position, depending on the specific setup. Always consult the vehicle's service manual for precise orientation and firing order.
On the 305 engine the number one plug position is the first one on the right side while you are facing the engine.
The marked # 1 position on the distributor cap faces to the FRONT and center of the engine
The distributor cap should have the number 1 marked on it. The distributor cap is installed with the # 1 position facing the engine , slightly towards the drivers side of the engine
The marked # 1 position on the distributor cap faces AWAY from the engine
Align the rotor with the number one position on the distributor cap, then with the engine at TDC insert the distributor. There may be a mark on the outside of the distributor to help.
73 pontiac 350 engine where is #1 distributor plug wire clock on cap. Standing in front of the engine looking at the distributor cap, number one would be at the 1 O'Clock position. From there CCW (Counter Clock Wise) the firing order goes 1, 8, 4, 3, 6, 5, 7, 2.
The number one plug is the one on the drivers side front of the engine. Therefore the plug wire connected to that plug is number 1 and where it connects to the distributor is the number 1 position on the distributor. If you have removed all the plug wires then you will have to remove the spark plugs, turn the engine over until the number 1 cylinder is at top dead center (TDC) on the compressions stroke. Once it is at TDC then the rotor inside the distributor will be pointing to the number 1 position.
Standing in front of the vehicle with the hood open, looking at the distributor, number 1 on the cap would be at the 7 o'clock position.
# 1 position on the distributor cap faces AWAY from the engine The spark plug firing order is ( 1 - 5 - 3 - 6 - 2 - 4 ) The distributor rotor turns CLOCKWISE
The engine number is on the engine block below the distributor.
On number one terminal, put engine at tdc on 1. If engine/rotor hasn't moved, leave rotor alone.