Partsman, You were correct. I turned the dist a little and it worked out. I will now set the timing to get it just right because it is knocking quite a bit when I give it some gas. Thanks for the help.

 

It sounds like the distributor was re-installed off a tooth on the distributor drive gear. The timing is now off and the car won't behave like it used to. Here is what you do.....

Remove the coil wire from the distributor.
Remove #1 spark plug.
Get an assistant to "bump" the ignition key/engaging the starter momentarily (or use a remote starter switch) while you do the following....
Put your finger over the #1 spark plug opening in the cylinder head and wait until it tries to push your finger off (this is the compression stroke of the cylinder). Have your assistant let go of the key when you get to this point.
With a pencil or other non metallic probe touch the top of the piston through the spark plug hole and determine when the piston reaches the top of it's stroke (again with your assistant momentarily bumping the key). This is called "top dead center". The timing mark on your harmonic balancer should also be pointing at (or very close to) ZERO at this time. DO NOT LOSE OR DROP THE PROBE IN THE CYLINDER.
Remove the distributor again - without disturbing the motor from top dead center.
Remove the distributor cap noting the position of the rotor.
Re-install the distributor so that the rotor points to #1 cylinder. You may have to do this more than once as the distributor drive gear is cut on an angle and the rotor will turn a bit when the distributor is inserted into the engine. Get the rotor to point directly at the #1 cylinder, this is very important.
Once you are satisfied that the distributor is installed properly, secure the distributor, reinstall the distributor cap and coil wire, reinstall #1 spark plug and try starting the motor. You will have to re-set the timing with a timing light.
If the motor still runs rough or backfires you may need to repeat the process until you get the distributor aligned/installed correctly.
As with all procedures, be aware of moving parts, fans, belts, pulleys and do not wear loose clothing that could become entangled in any moving parts.

 

Damn! I will try it again today. I knew it......I thought close enough was good enough when I put it back on, I guess not. When you say "point to #1 cylinder", do you mean point to the actual spark plug or wher #1 spark plug wire plugs into the dist? Thanks.

 

Point the rotor to the place where the spark plug screws into the head on your engine. This should also correspond with the position of the #1 spark plug tower on the distributor cap.
(This only applies to the #1 cylinder, the others do not line up this way).

 

Riley,if you turned the distributor a little and it pretty much cleared up I think you are close enough. Try the timing light and see if it'll time without twisting the wires all out of shape. The reason Chevy makes #1 on the distributor the terminal just to left of center(facing forward) is that is where the minimum number of wires cross each other. Most manuals will show this, and a pretty much believe the people who build the machines. If they say this is best then more often than not it actually is best.
Ron

 

DeeVeeEight,
It worked. It took some time getting the oil pump to turn and get the dist in on the right tooth but it is up and running and sounds good. Thanks for the help.

 

Riley, I'm glad it worked out for you. I have been down that same road in days past....
I have also done what Partsman has suggested.
I've always found it best to get it set back to where it was in the first place.