Okay guys here's the deal

I recently pulled th V6 out of my 1983 Camaro to fix a horrendous oil leak. After replacing the rear main seal, oil pan gasket, freeze plugs, and Valve cover gaskets I reinstalled the motor. When I removed it, it started right up and ran beautifully. Now after the install, it cranks but won't start. I have both fuel and spark and the distributor has been set at TDC about ten times now. What am I missing??????

 

Did you change the oil pump too??? I ask this because the only time I've seen a 2.8 crank with out starting with everything being set right, I found that the oil pump was in peices in the bottom of the pan. I've also found the oil pump pick up tube laying on the bottom of the pan on a 2.8 also. Without oil pressure the lifters will not pump up, which will keep the valves from opening. You should check to see if you have oil pressure. Time for a stupid question, you did put oil back in it right?

 

I took care of all of that when the motor was out. Unless the oil pump fell apart when we were putting the motor back in but that's highly unlikely as I primed the pump the other day using a 10mm soket attatched to my impact gun. Aftyer cranking the Oil idiot light goes out so I'm getting decent pressure

 

The distributor's set to TDC? Try giving it some advance. With the #1 cylinder (remember, it's the frontmost Passenger side cylinder, not like a V8) at TDC, and the rotor pointing to the #1 cap terminal, spin the distributor clockwise a bit. That'll put some advance in it. Then try starting the car.

Maybe you initially gave it advance when you first installed the 2.8, and then after starting it, the engine moved the distributor to a 0 advance timing, or maybe even retarded the timing.