You can try it, but I don't think it will work. Worst thing that can happen is it not start and you have to find TDC again and redo it. The gear on the bottom of the dist has angled teeth and as you drop the dist in, it turns some to engage the teeth of the gears. You will need to turn the rotor counter clock wise some from the #1 to get it to align right, if you still cant get it you can try what they call "walking the dist" to get it to align with #1. What you do is drop the dist in with the engine at TDC, holding the top of the dist with one hand lift it up just enough for the gear teeth to disengage (only about a 1/4 to 1/2 way out) you should feel the gears disengage, then with your other hand turn the rotor counter clockwise about an inch or so and drop the dist back in, your rotor should have moved one tooth over, continue doing this until the rotor lines up perfect with number 1. It will eventually line up perfect. Each time the dist drop ALL the way down it moves the oil pump arm as well and it will eventually drop in at the correct spot. shouldn't take you more than 10 min or so to do this.
