Easiest way to set TDC & dist timing on 93 k1500 5.7

I put in a new distributor with the motor not on TDC now I know it is a few teeth/degrees off, Any pointers on the easiest way to set the engine at TDC and ways to drop in the distributor just right as well as setting timing.

TIA

There should be a mark on the harmonic balancer, and a mark behind it on the block. Line the mark up with zero.

Not sure about the distributor, never done one.

first off, while replacing the dist. did you turn the motor over with the dist out? Did you put the new dist. back in with the rotor turned exactly where it was before removing? If you did this you should be able to time it with a light.

If not I like to get the motor close to TDC by removing the #1 plug, put your finger over the hole and when it reaches the greatest compression it is close to TDC. Then you can set it on the marks. The dist. rotor should point directly to the #1 wire position on the cap at #1 TDC.

No we didn't crank it at all bu it just doesn't seem right on, I know in the manual it says to disconnect the brown lead from the firewall when you set the timing, Disconnecting this wire also makes the check engine soon light come on. Just wanted some insight on why this is done, And is an inductive timing light needed?

I put in a new distributor with the motor not on TDC now I know it is a few teeth/degrees off, Any pointers on the easiest way to set the engine at TDC and ways to drop in the distributor just right as well as setting timing.

TIA
the best way that i find to set #1 firing is to pull both valve covers and to watch #6 rockers and when both #6 rockers start to move have a piece of wire in #1 hole to find TDC, using your balancer may not be acturate as it may have slipped,find #1 on your cap,mark it,now look at your oil pump drive and line it up to #6 cyl.now is the tricky part and trial and error to get them all lined up right,this works for all small block chevy's...as for your tan/black wire,thats the computers timing control[EST] and will set a code,thats ok,if your engine is running by now your just about there. 1,turn off engine,2 disconnect tan/black wire,3 start engine[may run rough],set timing to 0 TDC,,with inductive timing light or just a good timing light,4 engine off,,do up connector, clear codes,,and i hope it runs well for ya.

Thanks for the tips it'ts exactly what I was looking for, I sthere a way to clear trouble codes from the computer without a code reader or diagnostic computer?

the 93's are OBDI which can be cleared by disconnecting the battery for a while. Thats it. OBDII systems hold on to the code even when the batt. is disconnected. Thats when you need a reader to clear them.

Pontiac77 is right about the accuracy in checking for TDC doing it that way, but thats a lot of work just to get it close. He said he does it that way in case the balancer has slipped. When all is said and done and you disconnect the EST wire to do the final setting with the timing light, guess where you'll be aiming that timing light to set it... anyways, I always do it the way Bigdaddy described. Its quick and easy... Just disconnect neg terminal on battery to clear the codes.