ok, I replaced the heads, lifters, cam, and intake. It'll crank, but it won't even fire. Everyonce inawhile I get one good backfire but that's about it. It bare cranks now cause the battery is about dead. I've retarded the timing and advanced the timing and nothing seems to help. I double checked all the wires and I'm definitely getting spark. I think I'm getting fuel. when I open the throttle all the way I see the jets squirting. I figure it's something to do with the timing. I put my finger over the #1 spark plug and cranked it until I felt it push it out. I brought the mark up to 0 degrees and then I set the distributor to #1 and dropped it in. Any ideas?

 

any ideas? anyone?

 

I agree with you, certainly sounds like a timing issue. My first guess was that you had it 180, but you said that you put the distributor in on compression on the #1 cylinder. I would double check and make sure the distributor is in right, just to be certain. Are you sure the valve lash is correct? Did you degree the cam correctly? I know these seem like crazy ideas but best to be sure. You could even try 180 the distributor, just to see. I thought I had mine in right one time but it wouldn't start just like yours. I did the 180 and it fired right up, just a suggestion. Also double check your plug wires, had that happen before too

 

I triple checked the wires. what do I do with being 180 off? if I get a chance today I'm going to pull the plugs and take the cap off. and check to make sure it's at 1 tdc.