now it won't start!

[sooner1]

First time poster here, so please bear with me...I own a '97 k1500 5.7l vortec. Blew lower intake gasket at #2 cylinder, took me 1 1/2 days to replace but did the job myself and hopefully saved a bundle. However, now it wont start. It turns over, attempts to catch, but won't start. I am afraid the gear on the bottom of the distributor was turned while it was out and now my timing is off. I haven't checked timing on a vehicle in about 15 years so forgive the simple question, but how do I tell if it's my timing causing the poor-starting? thanks in advance for any help...
Chris

[planedude]

did u have the distributor out. I assume you did, pull it out again and put the #1 plug at tdc compression. There will be a mark on the crank. Then put your dist in with the rotor pointing to #1. The computer can compensate enough so it should run if your timing is off a little. The u need a scantool to set the cam retard to 0. The gear at the bottom just hooks to the oil pump and that can be turned with a long flat screwdriver to line it up to the distr. Hope it helps.

[Fireplug]

You forgot the most important thing that mark on the blancer wheel will not show you tdc of compression . You could be 180 deg out. You should pull number 1 plug and tap the ign key to just crank the engine a tiny bit with your finger covering number 1 spark plug hole. Keep doing this untill you feel good compression then start looking fro that blancer timing mark