stuck like chuck

1966 Mustang 289 Cleveland...We drained all the fluids and purged the lines, new fuel pump, rebuilt carb, new plugs, new wires, points, rotor, distributor, condenser and still no fire. oh and new battery obviously. We're stuck. Fire, fuel and air and stuck like chuck.  Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.  

Hmmm . . . 289 Cleveland?    Let's start at the beginning.  I assume the engine was running when you started working on it?  If so it is just a tuning problem.  An old timer I worked with told me that if it ran when you started working on it it will run!  You need air, fuel, spark, compression and TIMING.  If it ran we can assume it has compression (at least enough to make it run).  SO if you have fuel to the carb (Disconnects and ground the coil) put the end of the fuel line that goes into the carb in a large pop bottle have some one turn it over and you should get large full "squirts of fuel" each time it pumps if they get smaller you have a fuel problem.  I also assume you have air . . .  SO we are down to timing.  Bring the engine to TDC (pull the #1 plug, turn it over till you feel it pushing your finger with air pressure) then stop when the piston if at the top.  Look at the timing marks and see if you are close to TDC.  Set the points.  Or you can set it to 6 Degrees on the pulley and have the timing set if not keep the distributor loose and move it a little bit after you get it started to set the timing correct.  If you had the distributor out it could be 180 degrees out!  Let me know what you find out.   Mel  

Our distributor spun 180.  I'm getting a new one today.  How do I remove the old and install the new back to its original position?  I don't know how to or before or after the new one is installed.  Never had one spin 180.  Thanks.  


Read more: http://forums.mustangmonthly.com/70/9210581/the-general-discussion/distributor-spun-180/#ixzz23uCTafNi  

Hi, Is it running yet?  
Ken
RestoMod 64.5 Mustang cvt.

Are you sure it spun? when the timing marks line up at TDC (top dead center)on the ballancer, the rotor should point to #1 or #8 spark plug wire, depending which one is on the compression stroke. I had a 79 Mecury Capri, that the roll pin that holds the distributer gear on the shaft broke, and every time i retimed the distributer , it would run for a few seconds till it tried to build oil pressure, and would turn the gear on me. Had to get towed home for a 25 cent roll pin.. and it never broke the pin again for the rest of the time i had the car.  

It ran great for about 10 days (about 50 miles) then yesterday it died on me half way to work and it is still there.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that all I did was run out of gas.