Tbi 5.7 distibutor woes!!!

[cfan10]

I can't get the distributor to drop all the way, when I've gotten it to seat the rotor would be facing straight towards the front of the engine, or pointing at the #4 plug. Of course I took a long screwdriver to turn the oil pump and try to get it like the rotor and gear.
I always seem to be some teeth off, lift and dropping isn't working.
I did it the old school way, took the #1 plug out turned the engine with a breaker bar felt strong compression used white out to mark what I'm sure is tdc, no timing tab it's broken off. Disconnected the timing wire tan/blk.

As always any advice or tricks to get it right is greatly appreciated!!
I will gladly make a small Christmas donation to whom ever helps with advice that gets this done.

'91 suburban tbi 5.7/700r4