can i do this?

[coldgin]

just went through the engine in my 69 3/4 ton gmc...wandered when putting the engine back in the truck can I have the distributor in the engine or should I leave it out or leave just the cap off?i pulled it with distributor out but used a ratchet strap hooked to the water pump to keep it level and going to use it again to install the engine and thinking back I thought I could have left the distributor in the engine when I pulled it...