i lined up the distributor correctly once its completely set down in it is flush and the contact is pointing at the 6 on the distributor and in position to make contact with the number one contact on the cap. i believe that it was on TDC also. only thing i am not sure of is was it on the compression stroke as i dont know how to check that.
any suggestions?

 

You can take the valve cover off to look at the valve positions or put your finger over the #1 spark plug hole to feel for pressure while approaching TDC.

George

 

Did you not record the direction of the rotor before taking out the distributor?

Now that you have cranked it, you'll have to find TDC and then check if the rotor is pointed in the correct position.

It is easy to get one tooth off (which is about 30*) because of the slot in the top of the oil pump drive shaft rotating too much when it was removed not allowing the distributor to go back where is should go. It took me a couple tries to get my distributor back in by using a long screw-driver to rotate the oil pump shaft back the correct amount.

 

What George said! Finger over the #1 spark plug hole while bumping starter is my method of choice. As soon as you feel compression, the very next time the marks line up - that is TDC#1 (easy to go past so beware). You do know there are two marks on the balancer? They end up somewhere around 1:00 and 5:00 (looking rearward at the engine from the front) with the 1:00 mark lining up with the pointer molded into the plastic timing cover.

 

You can also just pull the distributor back out, turn the rotor 180 degrees, and try it again. That way is probably quicker than pulling the spark plug, etc.

 

I stuck a socket on the alternator and put the engine at tdc with the mark on the crank pulley, dropped it in and went on my way, no pulling plugs or anything...