Hi all!

I need to get my fuel-injected '73 volvo 144 back on the road. It seems to have never run right. I did a head gasket job not many miles ago, and it failed. When I was putting everything back together last time, I wasn't able to get it to start unless I made #4 cylinder(next to firewall) #1, functionally and then I set the valve lash starting from that end. I knew that this wasn't by the book, but it did run. I loaned it to a friend, and somewhere in there something happened. Now, head gasket is blown again and I really want it to run right. But, something is very wrong. I bring #1 cylinder to TDC of compression stroke, and the rotor is pointing 180 degrees away from the notch on the distributor for #1. There is only one way the distributor assembly can be installed, so it's not a matter of flipping it back around halfway. I've never had the camshaft out. I did replace the (large) timing gear some years ago, but did not lose my place I know. I have tried rotating the distributor body around to where the rotor wants to be, but I know that that is not correct positioning for the body. Now, help me clarify this: When #1(the front cylinder) is at TDC of the compression stroke, the rotor should be pointing generally toward the radiator. Mine points towards the firewall. Believe me, I'm learning, but I'm almost at my wits' end trying to synchronize these parts. I welcome any suggestions. I will do the head gasket tomorrow, then try to get everything set right to run.