Emergency Timing Help Needed

[crm318]

Im helping out a buddy of mine put new plugs, wires, cap and rotor in his 79 Bonanza. The distributor was so loose that it could spin with the slightest of touch. I pulled all of the wires off and put the new ones in (along with all of the other mentioned items). When I go to start the truck, it makes slight popping sounds and sometimes it will make a shotgun blast sound (I thought my eardrum was busted). This is all while moving the distributor back and forth. I made sure it was on TDC with the distributor cap off and the rotor on the number 1. I also know that the wires are on correctly and in the right firing order of 18436572. What can I do at this point. Its an emergency because I have to leave my friend in a few hours and I dont want to leave him stranded.