I need to know how exactly to put the distributor into place as far as lining the rotor up with number one before I drop it inside the block
Does the rotor need to be facing the number one cylinder on the block or does it need to be facing the number one spot on the cap

I installed my new engine but I think the timing is off because of where I put the the distributor gear when I installed

 

The number 1 piston MUST be at TDC. When dropping in the distributor, align the rotor tip with the marked number 1 on the cap. Rotor rotation and firing order is marked on the intake manifold.

 

So do you think I went wrong by setting the rotor toward the number one cylinder when I put the distributor in?
And your telling me it is suppose to face the #1 spot on the cap which is kind of in the direction of the number 2

 

Yes, distributor is in wrong. There is a notch in the distributor body, and there should be a mark cast into the block as well. #1 needs to be at TDC, in firing position, (both valves closed), the rotor, the notch, and the mark in the block all need to be lined up. That should get you close enough for the engine to run, then, once it is running, fuel sync can be set properly with the appropriate scan tool. (if you don't have one, may have to take it to a shop.)

Rotor will indeed be pointed sorta toward #2 cylinder when everything is right.

 

You can set the fuel sync like this...

 

Ok I understand so this is what I've done to try an compensate for the way the gear went it

I located tdc on the balancer an double checked it by feeling the piston ride to the top 100 % tdc

Took off the cap made note of where the rotor is positioned,then made that my new number one on the cap an basically jumped each wire to make it what it needs to be

I have the truck running it purrs like kitten but only if I have my foot on the gas then as soon my foot comes off it dies

The only I can think that is keeping it from continuing to run is the catalytic converter which I think is bad does anyone now if this will cause my engine to not stay at an idle on its own? All help appreciated!

 

I am surprise that it even runs. Number one on the cap is marked for a reason. The engine is sequential fuel injection, I.E. the injector fires right before the intake valve opens on each cylinder. By marching the wires around, you have thrown the injector timing WAY off. It will never run properly that way.

You need to line everything up again, mark where the rotor is pointed, determine how far you need to turn it, pull the distributor, moving the drive gear down there the determine distance, and reinstall the dist.

 

So I need to pull out the distributor an then pull the drive gear an make it so when I set the distributor back in it will face the #1 on the cap(#1 intake manifold bolt hole)? Or will i have to pull the gear at all?

If the gear, are there any special tricks to getting the gear out without droping the oil pan?

 

To:Hey you &anyone else that might be able to help

You once responded to a thread from (dorkous Markus) his thread started 6/6/14 he claimed his distributor jumped 180 degrees out numerous times even when he set what he believed to be tdc with the the rotor an it would run fine for awhile but he would later check an it would be 180 out again

In my case I set it at tdc (cylinder heads off) looked at the relationship between the oil pump drive gear and the rotor an dropped the drive gear in so that when I drop the distributor into the rotor will face #1 cylinder an after its all buttoned up would not run until I switched the plug wires is when it ran but not without me on the gas

I would later unplug wires remove cap an discover it is also 180 out so where it sat I.made that plug wire number one (which I don't understand exactly why it would matter because I just changed where the number one sat on the top of the cap an got it to run with the gas) and it doesn't spit sputter or nothing runs fine just not on its own so could my problem possibly be anything else because I know it ain't the timing chain or anything else it's all brand new besides the catalytic converter an the fuel pump do you think my problem could be one of those two?

I'm just not completely convinced that is my issue based on what I've read
Around the forum

 

Download the 98 service manual from this thread. On page 8D-24 is the procedure for installing, and correctly indexing the distributor. Follow that procedure, and you should be close enough for the engine to run fairly well. (doesn't matter what year your truck actually is, procedure is the same.)