The #1 position on the distrib can be anywhere you want as long as the rotor is pointing to that terminal when the #1 cylinder is near TDC (as you said). But the convention is to put #1 near the firewall, then 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 firing order. The vacuum can points towards the drivers fender, more or less. Don't forget a pontiac rotor turns counterclockwise, opposite a chebby.
