Ok we have been trying to get our 1984, Carb 2.8L running for a while. We were having some fuel problems so we replaced the fuel filters, adjusted the fuel pressure regulator to 4.5 lbs replaced the carb with a reman we had and it ran ok for a while but ran rough. Oh yeh newer 2.8l with no mechanical pump so we put in an inline electric pump. We then got a ticking from the passenger side heads. Took them off and checked them and could not find anything wrong with the heads but found a small maybe 1/16x1/8th metal fused to one of the pistons. Broke it off and decided to replace the heads with some off of an engine we are rebuilding the bottom end on. The heads have maybe 1000 miles since they were rebuilt. All back together and now cranks but won't start. Plugs and wires are not that old, Checked cap and rotor and both were very worn so replaced still no start. Checked spark and not strong so new coil and changed the ICM as well. Reset timing several times. Firing order 123456. Started briefly but oil leak out of dizzy so pulled and got new O ring. We have fuel because we have pulled the plugs and they are wet. Lastly we tried to start and crank but no start, but we did get a backfire through the carb so we stopped.
Any ideas? If we can't get it running by Monday we will have to tow it to a Mechanic because we are stumped. Sorry about the long post.

 

starting fluid can be helpful, as if it won't fire off on that, you know the spark is bad, if it will try to run and then die, you know its fuel.......

 

We tried but will try again and let you know.