ok, so the V6 is now out, the V8 is in, and almost running. everything is buttoned up, headers on, carb, intake, colant lines, fuel (with a new fuel regulator), everything. we have fuel, we have spark (new plugs), but the danm thing doesnt seem to be in time. i timed it to the first time to the exhaust stroke the first time (at least i think i did), so i took the dis. out and timed it again to what i thought is the intake stroke. it sounded better, but my dad flooded it (bloody idiot), so now i have to wait till tomarow. anyways, before he flooded it it sounded better, but still backfired and stuff. are there any tricks at timing these things? im going to try turning the rotor a bit one way, try to start it, and then turn it the other way, just to see if that helps. i realy just want to get it started and running. any help and that would be great.
ps. this is day four, ive been putting in 12 hour days doing this 5 day swap, and its Almost done

 

pull #1 spark plug, tap starter until you feel compression coming out the plug hole. tap starter till timing mark is close to zero. drop distributor in so it points to the #1 plug wire on the cap and you should be close. put the plug back in, start it up, if it backfires, turn the distributor counter clockwise a quarter inch at a time till it runs better, then you should be able to get a timing light on it and set it to at about 6 degrees before TDC with the vacuum advance disconnected. (or whatever your cam manufacturer suggests)

 

If the distributor is still in while you're doing this find-#1-position thing, make sure you have the power disconnected to the coil when you do this. Ask me how I know. . .

 

yep, it only takes once......