My motor is smoking!

Bingo! I believe you found the problem.

You can put the intake on and push it back or better forward if the dist. is still in, to check how the intake sits, if its flush with the heads.

I believe its best to do with a gasket in place, since thats how its going to be on there.

Get a thick gasket, not steel--those were for cast iron intakes. Clean the head and intake with brake cleaner, not paint thinner or carb cleaner-those have oil in them. Put some stuff like high-tack or Indian head sealer. Use RTV on the front and back rails.

I also like using a valley tray to limit the oild flying up from the camshaft. Cheap $25 and if the intake ever leaks, theres far less oil hitting the intake.