I can see the distributor cap and shaft move but the nut is locked(i checked) car has been running crappy and Im worried the distributor might not be set right where its supposed to TIA

 

I think you've answered your own question. Re-set the timing, and snug the bolt down...

 

No, the distributor needs to stay in place, otherwise your base timing will be thrown off.

 

It is somewhat normal that you can move the shaft & rotor around by hand, with the motor sitting still.

If the dist body moves, that's a sign the hold-down hardware is loose or improperly installed. (half on, half off the flange, for example) Verify correct installation, properly adjust timing, tighten properly.

What vehicle / year / engine / induction system of 82-92 Camaro/Firebird is this?

 

People often over tighten the hold down bolt/nut and bend the bracket. Some aftermarket ones are pretty flimsy n junk.

 

Thanks for all the help guys, bracket had to be adjusted.I removed the distributor and now I want to put it back in. I removed spark plug and checked im on compression stroke, set the harmonic balancer to 0 (tdc), pointed the rotor on the distributor and meshed to cyl 1(not seated all the way). now when I try to seat the distributor by turning the engine manually the rotor starts to move away clockwise towards cyl 4 then it finally seats. Can I just go ahead and put the cap back on with spark plug 1 where it should be at originally even thought my rotor is seated and pointing at cyl 4
88-IROC 350

 

That was the oil pump drive engaging... Personally, I would rotate it back around to check you are on number one at the right time... Check twice... Never hurts even though it may be ok if it stayed in synch...

I usually line up the oil pump drive before dropping the dist in place...

 

I would not run it unless the distributor is in exactly the right spot. It's not seating because the oil pump drive is rotated in the wrong spot. I manufactured myself a very long flathead screwdriver to turn the pump drive where I needed it to be so the distributor seats where I want it. Note: if you're connecting multiple tools together to get the length you need, tape and test all connections so they can't be separated. Dropping anything down into the valley means hours more work.

 

@erik69&85 you mean like rotate it manually again and make sure the rotor is at the cyl 1 position when the timing mark is at 0?

 

@Komet Ive got a pretty long screw driver i can use to try to line up the oil pump gear in the manifold, ill try that and see what it gets me as well. ive just seen a lot of people turn the engine and it lands perfectly where it needs to be for it to seat lol

 

After the distributor drops down onto the oil pump shaft, you can rotate the crankshaft around back to TDC and turn the distributor housing to point the rotor at #1 plug wire. Snug the clamp bolt not too tight so that you can still move the distributor by hand. Start it up, adjust timing with a timing light and tighten the bolt. Even doing this, the initial start might require moving the distributor a little one way or the other while someone is cranking it over to get it to start. It just needs to be close enough to start, then set it correctly with the timing light.