this is one of the many uses for a block of wood and spade bit set..

take a 2x4 ... drill a hole with a spade bit to fit over the crank.. tap it on with a hammer and youll get a good even seating.

Thanks for all of the tips guys, they are sincerely appreciated. That's the difference between the pro's and the amateurs, the details. I really appreciate you guys taking time to lay out it for me.

Well guys, I think I'm screwed, I put it all back together and nothing is leaking, but the car is real sluggish and sounds different, I idles lower. I guess the cam is slightly retarded now somehow. I assume I can't turn the distributor to correct this as it won't chage the realtionship of the cam to crankshaft. I'm screwed.

Not screwed, just delayed. My guess is you got the timing chain on wrong, one tooth off. All you have to do is do it again.
Okay your are screwed, but it repairable. The second time is easier.

What timing marks am I looking for on the gears, I still have the old chain on there, I couldn't get the gear off the crank, it wouldn't move at all. I noticed that the top gear had an arrow that was facing away from the dot on the bottom gear. I think I might lose my mind if I do the job again and it doesn't work.

ps I tried everything to get the old gear off, except cracking it, I started to have my doubts that the new gear would go on after I got the old one off. The old one wouldn't move an inch. Do I have to get the key out of the crank or something? I really don't know what I am doing when it comes to the details of this.

I guess i will be doing this over tommorow.

Does anyone know if the key(if that is what it is called) in the crankshaft has to be removed to get the gear off....or can I pull the gear over it? I put alot of force on it yesterday and nothing.

Ok....finished it today, got the crank gear off with the puller, had to put exessive force on it, but it let go. The new chain is nice and tight....lined up the timing marks. I didn't realize how bad the old one was. I also notice that the old cam gear had several hairline fractures in it. It probably would have caused a major problem if I had left it in there. Going to wait 24 for the silicone to dry before I take her out. Whew!

im glad you got it working..

just looked at all the posts and it looks like we all collectively neglected you..

sorry..