Engine not working/broken distributor

[timoteo]

so i took my car engine apart and replaced my head gasket in hopes to learn more about engines. i learned a lot but not enough cause my car isnt working. when i went to start the car it was cranking but wouldnt start. the distributor was bolted down tight but was moving when i was trying to start the car. i took it off and looked at it and what appears to be a metal washer on it was bent. i tried to tap it back to being straight and it easily broke off. When I installed the distributor cyl #1 was at tdc and the notch on my distributor was pointed towards the #1 spark plug. I will go take a pic and post it when i can. So heres the questions i would like answered

1. Why was it rotating like that and how can i prevent that?
2. Was this likely the reason to why my car wouldnt start or do u think there were other problems?
3. Can I install the distributor as it is to figure if this is the reason why my car wont start?


Ive had a LOT of bills recently so I cant really afford to put money into it even though i need my car back. A new distributor isnt cheap so if i buy another one I dont want to break it. And even if i buy another one install it right I dont want to find out that that isnt the reason it isnt starting. I need a sensai to help lead me in the right direction so i dont make more mistakes and so i can get this thing back up and running

 

[timoteo]

o btw this is urgent because of a few reasons. One i need it done so i can get it out of my friends garage before i have to tow it out. Two theres a place having a sale for the distributor and i cant really afford it but if i know how not to break it and if i think that this is likely the problem then i will borrow money and get it while its cheap. My girlfriend has been driving me to work everyday for the past month and I soon may not be able to get rides from here so i need to get this done asap

 

[Akingkhan]

Where are you located? If your not far I wouldn't mind coming out there n giving you a hand. I'm about an hr north of sac.
It's kinda hard to know exactly what's going on you know what I mean.