Put in a new edelbrock intake manifold on my friends 396 Bbc. Fired it up for the first time and it started except there was a clicking coming from the distributor, figuring it probably wasnt seated right i took it back out. Now its back in and it wont even start over it will back fire through the carb when I give it gas. What could be the problem? I know its something with the distributor because it turned over before, we have #1 piston at TDC, Initial timing at 12*.

Thanks

180 degrees off. Turn it ove with #1 plug out until you start to feel compresssion build as you approach TDC. You are on TDC of exhaust stroke.