Jack up one front wheel and try to turn it and see if it is still in. Sometimes they get bound up and won't come out till you take the pressure off and free it up. If it has those slip on front hubs they might be stuck too. Ford had a lot of problems with them.

If you dislodged it you will have to take a small magnet and get it started back in the oil pump before you try to put  the dist. back in. If you did not dislodge the shaft when you removed the dist. bring the engine up on top dead center for number 1 cylinder. Line up rotor with number 1 plug wire on cap and slide it down in. You will have to back up rotor slightly and rotate it as you go in because the gear is cut on an angle. If it wont go all the way down, you may have to hold down on dist while somebody bumps the starter for it to drop in completely. If you marked it before you took it out do the same procedure only line it up with your mark   if you didn't turn the engine while you had it out. I hope I explained it so you understand. If you have any questions I will walk you through it.