What's the easiest way to find top-dead-center? Is there markings on the crank or do I have to put a coat hanger in the #1 plug hole?

 

there is a mark on the crank. put a wrench on & turn till it lines up with the mark

 

pull dist cap off, turn the crank and align the crank mark with the 0 mark on the timing cover, the rotor should point @ #1 plug tower of the dist cap, if not rotate the crank one full revolution and realign mark. you should now be @ TDC, unless the motor has jumped time! You are looking for TDC of compression stroke, not just TDC!

 

That was the answer I was looking for. I knew there had to be an easier answer to finding tdc, and the distibutor completely slipped my mind. Im used to working on newer cars without them.