Engine Will Not Start

dgc333 said
If you have spark at the coil wire but not at the plug I would look to make sure you didn't bugger up the rotor and make sure the cap is seated properly on the distributor base. If either of those can prevent the spark from being routed to the plugs. A common issue is the button in the center of the cap falling out and the rotor no longer making contact.

Also, you mention that you had the engine at TDC when you put the distributor back in but there is two TDC's per one rotation of the distibutor. It is very easy to wind up with the distributor 180 degrees out. The quick and simple way to check that you are on TDC for the compression stroke is to take the plug out and put your finger over the hole as you bring it up to TDC. You should get some compression pressure trying to push your finger off.

Don't worry to much about where the wires are on the cap in relation to the engine (i.e the picture in the manual). As long as you are at TDC on the compression stroke and the rotor is pointing to where the number 1 wires is connected and the rest of the wires are attached in the proper firing order around the distributor you are good to go.

Thanks for reminding me about the TDC on the compression stroke, was probably to excited to remember to make sure I had that TDC and then to mad to remeber when it wouldn't fire. But would not being on comp. TDC make the spark plugs not spark at all. I will be checking every wire there is for proper voltage and resistance etc. later tonight, sometimes you just have to step back from the car for awhile.

Probably something simple like cap and rotor, but that stuff is new anyway.