Stuck distributor gear 318la

I have a 70 318 in my 56 dodge, I have had the engine many years and its time to run it, the motor was stored years before I got it and has only 16000 original miles, Yes 16000, honestly it looks as new BUT I'm trying to prime the pump I got the distributor out but can not get the gear out to get the prime shaft down coupled to this dilemma is the fact the distributor sits back under the firewall so I'm working blind or with a mirror, any ideas? Don't want to pull the intake as I only put it on a few months ago, thanks.