Ok .. I stick a straw in the #1 spark plug hole and everytime I rotate my crank to the 12 o clock position the straw comes out. Which is tdc.
When I follow the book and the pattern of valves to tighten on the first tdc I would rotate 360 and find that the ones I tighten the first time are now loose. whats the problem. Also am I supposed to have my throttle wot because that's what i've been doing. Would it be a problem to set valve lash with the throttle fully open?

 

Check your lifters out. They may not be working correctly. I have the same problem and I thought going with a longer pushrod was the way to go but it wasn't and everyone said I shouldn't need longer pushrods with the cc503 cam.

 

With #1 at TDC make sure both valves are closed. If not, it is at TDC exhaust stroke. It will then need to be rotated 360* to get to TDC compression stroke.

You can also stick your finger over #1's spark plug hole. If it blows your finger out, that is the compression stroke.

 

When the #1 piston is at the top of it's travel, it could be at TDC firing or exhaust. #6 piston travels up and down at the same time as #1. When #1 is firing, #6 is exhausting and vice-versa. If you are starting from scratch, you will have to watch the position of the lifters/pushrods to determine which cylinder is firing when your pulley mark is at 12 o'clock.
If you have the timing cover off, you can easily tell by the cam dowel position. Cam dowel at 3 o'clock is #6 TDC, 9 o'clock is #1 TDC.

It can also be that you are doing it right and the lifters are bleeding down. Once you start the engine, they should be ok. BUT, you want to make sure you adjusted them correctly to start with.

 

It's kina hard to see cuz I'm turning the crank from under the car. I'll try to stand up and do it. So tdc on the #1 intake valve will have the push rod all the way down or up? Will it be better to take the intake manifold back off?
If I know that I think i can get it from there?