The thing is, the "right place" is only "right" if the intermediate shaft (oil pump /distributor drive) is installed correctly.

So what you need to do if find out where it needs to be to time the engine.

Pull out the no1 spark plug, rig a remote starter switch or get a friend to operate the key, and stick your finger in the plug hole. Bump the engine until it blows your finger out on compression. It probably will help to do this a couple of times so you are sure what to look for and STOP when the compression first starts

Then look to the timing marks which should be "coming around." Bump the engine until the timing marks are where you want the initial timing set, say, 10* BEFORE top dead center, or BTC.

Assuming the engine has been running OK, pull the cap, and where the rotor is "coming to" is your no1 plug tower. Bear in mind that the BB/ RB distributors rotate COUNTER clockwise.

In order to set the timing "good enough to start" in this condition, the points should be just opening, or the reluctor should be close to the center of the pickup coil.

If this is a "new start" and the timing is not "set," rotate the dist. retarded (ccw) and then bring it advanced (cw for a big block) until the points just open.

In the case of breakerless, you can turn on the key, rig a spark gap such as a plug hooked to the coil wire, and rotate the dist. from retard to advance (cw) until it sparks. By doing this several times back and forth, you can get a "feel" for where the spark happens, and by slowing down your movements each time, you can accurately gauge where the spark is made. Stop the dist right at this point and the engine should start and run.

So far as the "book" that is, "the right tower" Once again, it depends on how the distributor driver shaft was installed.

The only reason on most engines that there is a specified "right way" is:

So the assembly line folks can "wrench repeat"

So the plug wires "lay" nice

So the tuneup mechanics "see" what they expect.

Otherwise, on a geared distributor like a GM, you can just bring the engine up to 10BTC or so, "throw" the distributor in, and plug the no1 wire into wherever the rotor happens to be pointing.

Here's the picture from the shop manual: