My motor had a knocking sound to it so I tore it apart trying to find the problem. When I had the intake off I found that I had a bent pushrod. So after fixing that, I readjusted the valves and put the intake and everything else back together. Now the motor will not start and I can't figure out why. Any ideas? It is a 305 TPI. The motor is getting spark and fuel, and the timing is on.

Did you replace the lifter as well? pushrod usually doesn't bend on it's own, it's usually because the lifter went bad.

Is the motor turning over just not starting? Maybe a ground wire missed? There's usually one on the back of the pass head to the firewall.

Do you have fuel pressure and injector pulse?

Did you make the valves too tight?

Very good question.

The motor will turn over, it just won't start. I set the valves at zero lash and then went an additional 3/4 turn. Is that to much? I didn't change the lifter, just the pushrod. Now I wish I did change the lifter, just wasn't thinking at the time.

Does it do anything while cranking?

3/4 turn into hyd lifters is not excessive. Thinking about it, unless you lost significant compression, that will not casue a no start anyway. I would focus on injector pulse, assuming timing is right. Have you checked timing with a light while cranking? Verify injector pulse with a test light or noid. Im thinking, as camaronewbie suggested, that you left a ground off or perhaps blew a fuse.

It just cranks over. It doesn't even try to start.

Checked timing with a light while cranking. All fuses were good. I'll just go and look over everything again and see what I can find.

Of course, double check all sensor connections. TPS disconnected can cause no injector pulse. CTS disconnected can cause engine flooding. IAC disconnected can casue no start due to insufficient air intake. Did you reconnect the IAT sensor? Check your work.

I will check later and post what I find.

Are the plugs wet with fuel?

I actually forgot about this until now. When I had the TPS sensor unplugged the one terminal on the tps connector rubbed up against the post on the alternator and sparked when it hit it. Could that have shorted something out?

yes, you might have fried the ecm.

Managed to get the car running again, just took some cranking over. The noise is still there however.