1994 3.0 won't start after head gasket replacement

[superdrag67]

Swapped the head gaskets out over the past couple weeks, just working on it an hour or two when I had time. Got it all back together and I have fuel pressure and spark but it won't start. I checked compression before I tore it all apart and everything looked ok.
I didn't put a gauge on it but I have fuel spraying out of the fuel rail when I check it so I know it's pressurized. Fuel pump was a year or so ago and I can hear it kick on. Tried starting fluid just to see, still wouldn't start

I verified spark at one of the plugs with a spark tester. These are new plugs gaped to .044.

It ran fine before I tore it apart so I'm not sure what is going on. I have checked and double checked all my wiring and can't find anything that I missed.

I double checked and made sure that the rotor is pointing at the #1 spark plug wire when the engine is at TDC. It cranks normal, no backfiring or anything.

I'm at a loss here, any suggestions?

 

[RonD]

Distributor is 180deg off

Turn engine until rotor is point at #5, and crank is on TDC line
Pull up distributor turn it to #1 and put it back down

It will start now, but you still need to time it

The crank turns 2 times for every one turn of the cam and distributor, so #1 and #5 both have TDC of 0deg on crank
Its a 4-stroke engine, so pistons go up and down twice to make the 4-strokes, so crank must make 2 full turns for one complete cycle
Firing order, 1 4 2 5 3 6
1 4 2 = 1 full turn of crank shaft, distributor 1/2 turn
5 3 6 = 2nd full turn of crank shaft , distributor 1/2 turn

 

[superdrag67]

Thanks, I will give this a try tomorrow and let you know how it goes.

 

[superdrag67]

Well I went to take another look at the timing and I wasn't 180deg out, I was just completely off. The mark I was going off of on the damper was not TDC. ?
I cleaned off the damper with some brake clean and the mark wasn't even part of the timing scale. In fact I was probably 1/4 turn of the damper from TDC. Pulled and reset the distributor and it fired right up.

Thanks RonD! You're a great help on this forum.

 

[RonD]

Good work

Wish I could say I've never done that, but can't, lol


Thanks for the update and FIX