distributor replacement

I have replaced my stock intake with an aftermarket intake and also purchased an HEI Pertronix Flamethrower and in the process i have lost my reference point for the number 1 post in the old distributor and my reference point for the positon of the vacuum cannister with replacing the intake i have the engine at TDC on number 1 cylinder and now i am at a standstill a the Distributor as no markings to indentify the number one post. any suggestions  

With the distrubutor installed in the engine the vacuum can hose end should line up right over the upper bolt on the water pump housing that is just to the right of the upper radiator hose as you look at the engine standing with your knees against the fron bumper..... (if you can visualize that.) That is a an approximate starting point.
The number one plug wire after orienting the distributor as mentioned above would then be just right of upper center or the one o'clock position if the wire terminals on the cap were looked at as a clock face when looking down on the top of the distributor cap. That should be a good starting place. Then run the rest of the wires per the firing order of the engine in the same rotational direction as the rotor travels under the cap. Then fire it up and set your initial timing to about 8 degrees BTDC for a starting point to curve your distributor from there.
Good luck.  

I agree with jbirch, but for your understanding, with the engine set to the correct TDC on the compression stroke, and the distributor housing oriented to allow timing adjustment ( not much room in a SBFord ), number one terminal is can be which ever post the rotor is pointing toward. Just start your #1 there and continue as jbirch says. My 302 dist rotates clockwise.  

thak you Gentlemen fo rthe info I will give it a shot and see how it goes  

Yeah, you can use any terminal as your no. 1 wire. I mentioned the one o'clock position since I have an original distributor cap that has a big "1" cast into the cap right beneath that teminal @ 1 o'clock position terminal so it could be easily idnetified without having to trace wires back to the no.1 cylinder for reference.