You can buy a piston stop at summit racing or make one from an old plug.
Just knock the porcelain and electrode out, thread the hole for a bolt and locknut and have at it.
New or different timing cover still doesn’t remove the need to check your timing marks.
Gear drive doesn’t change that need either.
Pic a video or two.
https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...+stop+on+a+sbc