Chevrolet: 70s 350cid, cam gears, valve job

Question
Roger,
 for some reason, I am having trouble with getting my distributer in the right way. I checked the firing order and the car just will not idle or even run. but it fires up and chugs and farts like its not on the right gear.is there a trick to lining up the slot for the oil pump? i just did a valve job and im stuck with this . sorry to bother you w/ such a redicuolous thing, ive done it several times in the past and had no troubles. Im gratefull for any knoledge you may have! thanks  Matt

Answer
Matt ;
 HI - If you are off by 1 tooth it will do what you told me, so pop the no 1 cyld. to get the  no 1 piston up and on tdc. than with the dist. and the rotor pointing at the no 1 on the cap drop the dist. down into the slot. if it will not drop in all the way - get it so it is on the no 1 spot and hold the dist. so it will not pop up  or out and have a friend just tap the switch - than the dist will fall in place in the cam gears and also on to the oil pump. than check the plug wires too 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2-. ok
Roger
get back if you need more.