302 not starting

ok, so i got my 302HO heads completely rebuilt, ported and polished.. added an RPM airgap intake and an edelbrock 600cfm performer carb.... and the damned thing just wont start... i've made sure i'm getting fuel, dead timed it right on, checked firing order, tested the intake for leaks, checked my oil for water/fuel... checked my coolant for oil... checked my compression... everything is showing up as perfect.... but all i get is a little pop out of the exhaust pipes... the only thing i've noticed is if i give it gas while cranking, the cranking RPMs drop drastically... but thats just compression... so i'm lost at the moment.... any ideas?

It has to have 3 things to run, fuel, air and spark. Remove a spark plug, re-attach the wire and hold it (with insulated pliers) against any ground on the motor, exhaust manifold bolt or whatever and have another person crank the starter. If you get a fat blue spark, ignition is not the problem. A weak, yellow spark will indicate a problem in the ignition system. Look down the throat of the carb while someone else stabs the throttle (motor off) to see if you're getting fuel blowin' out the pump shooters.

thats whats bothering me, is i'm already seeing both of those... and it just wont combust.... even though everything that is required is there

"A little pop out the exhaust pipes"....advance the timing.

its retarded when i get the pop.... and this morning i checked and now theres a lot of gas in my oil..... i've tried advancing the timing a little bit now too... and thats giving me a pop and white smoke out of the carb.... this is really stumpin me

found the answers to my problems... the condesor.... it was putting enough "back pressure" for the secondary ignition to spark hard out of the cylinder... but once i added compression, it was hardly sparking at all... stupid made in mexico parts... so i bought a borg warner condensor for a few bucks more and she fired right up.... and then my starter broke :( luckily the starter is like 15 years old and its actually for a 6 cyl... so i dont mind replacing that

I mentioned on another thread that Ford changed the starter in mid-82 or thereabouts, the register hole is slightly different. The smaller one will go into the bigger hole, but failure is certain. Been there, done that! The bendix housing (snout) snaps right off.

one more problem.... got a knocking that sounds like its coming from my valve train.... other than that car runs great... but it need to check that out, probably a loose rocker even though i checked them all and they seemed relatively firm.... i guess i'll have to hot adjust them.... time to get messy