Thread: Engine wont start. Could use some help and ideas.

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Hi Guys, I'm about at wits end and need some ideas please.

History;
I have a 32 Ford that I put a 350 vortec crate engine in a couple years ago after re-wiring the entire car. It ran great. I had an issue with a intake manifold leak (tip; Dont use Edelbrock gaskets, use Felpro on vortec style heads.) and replaced the gaskets. The engine started and ran fine but developed a serious bog off the line over time. I rebuilt the Edelbrock 600cfm I had on it with no effect. I was using a very old Mallory dual points distributer that had a Pertronics IgniterIII in it and thought the shaft bearing may be bad so I replaced it with a new MSD. The car would not start. I put the Mallory back in with same result. I have tried 3 carbs including a brand new Holly 670 street avenger which is now on the car, both distributers, two coils and new plug wires. I have tested for voltage at coil and at MSD's suggestion, put a jumper from the battery's positive terminal (battery is in trunk) to the coil's + terminal. All with same results.

Symptoms;
Car cranks as normal. Sometimes it will backfire but wont start. I have (tested with old plug outside engine and inductive timing light works when cranking.) spark. Fuel pressure gauge shows correct (6-7psi) pressure. I can see gas from accelerator pump so engine is getting gas. When I crank the engine I can see (by using inductive timing light) timing is at 10 btdc. I ran a compression check and all cylinders have good compression and are very close to each other in PSI reading. I have verified TDC using a finder tool and the marks on the harmonic balancer were right on. I have verified the firing order with the plug wires. I have tried turning the distributor as the engine is cranking from 10ATDC to 30 BTDC.

My thoughts;
I have spark or it wouldn't backfire. inductive timing would not show if spark wasn't happening.
I have gas for same reason, it backfires and I can see it via accelerator pump shot and through the sight glasses.


I'm not a pro but have worked with SBCs for a long time. The engine cranks, has spark, has gas and is at least close on timing but wont start at all. I'm 100% lost and out of ideas. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,....