OK, first of all, this is my first post so hopefully it'll work out for the best. I just put in a newly rebuilt 355 TPI in my 86 Z28, and I think I did something really stupid. I was adjusting the distributor and didn't get the clamp on well enough and tried to start the car, well, it popped the dist. up and from then on, there is a rattling noise that sounds like it's coming from the oil pan. Any ideas would be GREATLY APPRECIATED. Thanx.

Do you have oil pressure when the car is running? Might want to pull that distributor and make sure nothing is broken and theres no missing parts anywhere.

yes, I do have oil pressure, I'm thinking maybe after that happened the shaft may be cracked, is this a possibilty for what is making the noise?

Another thing it might be, if you have the better oil pump shaft with the steel sleeve instead of nylon where the oil pump is, maybe that came loose and is rattling around.