UK Car Repair: ignition timing, spark plug wires, triumph spitfire 1500

Question
Hello,
 i have a 1979 triumph spitfire 1500.  i am putting a new electronic ignition in the car but in order to do so i need to have the rotor point to the #1 spark plug terminal when the engine is at TDC.  when my engine is at TDC the rotor points to the #2 spark plug terminal which is actually the terminal the rotor comes to before #1 since the firing order is 1,3,4,2.  I've tried rearranging the spark plug wires so that when the rotor is at the #2 position it leads to #1 spark plug and continued the same pattern all the way around the distributor.  I've also tried rotating the distributor housing back one position for the same useless results...nothing.  however,  when the rotor is pointing to the #2 terminal and the engine is TDC and i put the plug wires on as if the rotor were pointing to the #1 terminal(2,1,3,4 from the rotor) i can at least get the engine to sputter poorly but nothing close to starting.  the ignition kit is a Kent cams xr700 and i installed it on a Lucas electronic ignition style distributor.  any suggestion would help me greatly.

thanks

Answer
 First, how are you determining TDC No 1?  The easiest way, with all the plugs out, is to turn the engine over by hand and feel the compression with your finger in the plug hole, once you feel it coming up you can put a drinking straw in the hole and slowly bring the piston up to the timing pointer position. Now set the rotor to No 1 wire, put everything back carefully and fire it up.