Best way is to bring the # 1 cylinder up to TDC and then look at the distributor rotor, to see if it is pointing to # 1 terminal in the cap.
If your out by 180 degrees, you probably don't have the piston on compression stroke, so come around once more.
The fact that the engine runs ( although poorly ), would suggest that your timing could be off by one tooth, and you can't get it set, because you have limited movement on the distributor adjustment.
Try it, won't take long.
