[Rev]

What I would do is use a piston stop that you screw into the #1 spark plug hole to contact the piston on it's way up. You may be able to borrow that tool from your local auto supply store (AutoZone, Pepboys, etc.). Before you insert the stop, crank the engine a little at a time with your finger over the #1 spark plug hole until you barely detect some compression. Install the stop.Turn the engine only by hand until the piston stop makes contact with the piston. Record the degree reading on the damper with the pointer in it's current position . Now turn the engine backwards until the piston contacts the stop. Again, turn the engine only by hand and gently at that. Record that reading on the damper.

If you take the mid-point between those two readings, you will have what should be top dead center (0 degrees advance). Adjust your pointer to point at TDC on the damper/balancer. You now should get correct readings when you time the engine with a timing light..

Rev