Ok, this is really frustrating.. Everything is back together and it goes ok with the starter engaged, but will not fire, not even a misfire... So, could it be that my timing is off by 180 degrees... I know that I was at TDC when I took the stuff off, but when I lashed the valves, I brought the mark back to 0 but how do I know it was on the right part of the stroke. Isn't a complete strock 720 and I think I only went through 360..

Anyway, that is my thought.. Anyone have any others???

 

A complete combustion cycle is 2 full revolutions of the crankshaft. If you only went 360°, you are 180 off.

 

When the valve cover was off, you would have turned the engine until both valves on #1 were closed with the timing mark @0.

 

If you already have it all back together, pop the number 1 plug out and then turn the motor 360 deg by hand. If air hisses out of the plug hole, you're 180 out and need to reset the valve lash, and then redo the distributor installation and timing. If air sucks into the chamber, you're in good shape as far as that goes.

Good luck

 

Pop the distributor out, rotate it 180° and drop back in. See if that works.

If that fails, remove the #1 plug. Unplug the power to the distributor. Place your finger over the #1 hole. Have a friend bump the starter over or use a starter interrupt switch and bump it over until you feel pressure build behind your finger as if its trying to get pushed off. Bring the engine to TDC. You are now on #1 TDC firing. Drop the dizzy in and align to #1.