1997 tahoe distributer instalation

i have a 1997 chev tahoe,had to change intake manifold gaskets,when got all back together,engine started right up but had a miss,after checking all connections found the mounting plate on the distributer was broken,so purchased new dist,now when try to install,setting #1 cyl to TDC but can't get rotor to point to the small 8 (which is where #1 plug wire is) i thought was just a couple teeth off on gear but dist can only go in 2 ways since inside shaft is a tab which fits into a slot in gears inside engine, ? if i can just move gear inside engine or not

Welcome to the Tahoe forum.  The tang on the end of the distributor fits into the top of the oil pump shaft (at least that's the way the older small blocks worked).  What you need to do is slightly rotate the oil pump shaft so that when the dist. drops down and after engaging the cam gear and rotates into final position, it lines up properly.  It's a trial and error process but doable. 
 
The above is predicated on the engine not having been rotated since you removed the old dist.  If it has, then you'll need to find TDC on #1 on the firing stroke and do the above such that the dist. is set for #1.