New engine, won't run!

[billnorman]

Well...I agree with Pyrotechnic. That's how we always did it with engines that may have been assembled a little different than factory specifications. However, first and foremost you must have compression. After you verify you have adequate compression, then do the finger in the hole trick to validate that you are on #1 COMPRESSION STROKE. Also, validate that the timing mark is coming to alignment with the TDC indicator. If it's not, the damper is defective, installed wrong or the wrong one. If necessary, make a TDC locator out of an old spark plug with the porcelean removed and a rod welded through the middle. Remove the plugs and rotate the engine through by hand with a torque braker bar and socket on the crankshaft bolt to validate the TDC mark. Once TDC is validated, get on the compression stroke and wire the distributor cap so that the next plug wire the rotor gets to is #1, followed by 8,4,3 etc. Be SURE you don't have a distributor cap that has the internal jumpers so that all the plug wires come out on the same side of the engine that they go to. This will screw you all up. If it still won't run, leave the plugs in and hook a timing light to the #1 cylinder wire. While cranking, see where the spark flashes the light on the vibration damper. If it's right, and you have compression and fuel, it must run.