Ford Repair: 1989 5.0 timing, plug position, compression stroke

Question
I need to set timing from the step one( I screwed up and removed the dist.). Now it won't start at all

Answer
Ken, you will need to find "top dead center" on the number one piston, on the compression stroke.  Then, you will need to locate the number one spark plug position on the distributor cap.  To give you an idea of what is going on, when the crankshaft is at top dead center, the distributor rotor should be making contact with the number one spark plug position on the distributor cap.  When you "stab" your distributor, make sure that the rotor will be aligned at that position.  Take a marker and draw a mark on the inside of the "cap adapter" so that you can see the position without having to place the cap on the cap adapter.  The shade tree way of finding the compression stroke is to have someone rotate the crank until it begins to push air out the spark plug hole (you will need to remove the number one spark plug to do this).  There are also timing marks on the harmonic balancer if you can still read them.  Let me know if I need to go into more detail, or if you need more help.  Good luck,  Jason