3.Slow Top End Rebuilding, Setting Timing, and Ignition Problems

Reposting here since another forum hasn't had anything to offer in the past few days.

Calling all 3VZE experts
I am having a few issues with my 89 3.0 that may lead back to the same problems, but I am not sure where to start and need the thing running soon. Primarily is my inability to set the timing. I have just completed a top end rebuild, down to the intake gaskets, cleaned up the functioning knock sensor, new pigtail, new injector connectors, cleaned all other connections to engine harness pieces and rewrapped it entirely among other things. It was quite a bit of work but in the end I turned the key and it fired up no problem which surprised me that I did the work correctly.

My new issue begins when I removed the distributor to get a pry bar on the alternator to tighten the belts. That ended up killing the squeak there but putting the alternator back in has given me some issues. After reinstalling, fiddling with the timing settings, resetting TDC and the alternator every time I have only ben able to get puffs and wheezes from the tailpipe, loud backfiring up front, and entirely incorrect timing. Am I potentially missing something related to timing outside of the normal process of; TDC 0 mark on crank pulley, install distributor with markings in-line, plug it all back in and drive? It fired after harness rebuilding and before removing the distributor, just not after I have removed it and had to reset the timing.

I'll provide a pic as well but the distributor is old and probably garbage, I don't exactly have all the money in the world to spend on this after everything already but would it be worth replacing this even if it ran in this state? To be reasonable, I know its entirely unhealthy and is next on my list of components to replace, just want to know if I could get away with this temporarily because I'm broke as. I don't feel like this should stop me from being able to set a timing; just make it an un-fun process since it makes lining up my marks a little more difficult.


I have more issues related to spark when the engine is hot but since it will always start for me cold I'm just worried about getting back to that semi-functioning state first.