'82, F100, 5.0/302 - Truck was running good, set for a year and when I went to retrieve it, it wouldn't start. Fuel pump wasn't pumping but it would fire with starting fluid / or gas in the carb. "Mechanic" said fuel pump, still nothing, Mechanic said I needed new timing gears, still nothing. Got a new mechanic. Timing gears were installed out of time... corrected that, installed elect. fuel pump, installed Accell coil... Got fire, got fuel, got compression... Checked all plugs for fire, got it... checked distributor for fire, got it, still nothing. Rotated distributor 180, still nothing... we have asked several "pro mechanics" and they all say it should at least try to start, but nothing, not even an attempt. It did backfire through the carb when we spun the rotor 180. Any ideas, don't know what else to try.

 

Bad gas in the tank, perhaps? Change your fuel filter to eliminate that as a possibility, then try running a line from the fuel pump into a can of fresh gas and see if it will start.

 

New fuel filters, new gas and was shooting starting fluid in the carb, wouldn't even try to start... but I will try a hose in a can.

 

Plugs fowled? Did you try moving the distributor while you were trying to start it?

 

I have seen this happen a couple of times, everything is right but it won't hit a lick. It was fouled plugs like was mentioned. That can happen if you are troubleshooting and cranking cranking cranking, shooting fuel into it until you find out what the real problem was. By that time the sparkplugs are toast.

 

[QUOTE=Franklin2;12431091]I have seen this happen a couple of times, everything is right but it won't hit a lick. It was fouled plugs...

Thanks, I tried that, new plugs, and still nothing

 

Moved the distributor back and forth, rotated the rotor 180, new plugs, and still nothing

 

Have you had the carb apart? Sometimes there's crap in the gas and when it dries up, it'll plug jets, passages, etc. May even have the needle stuck closed.
When you pump the gas, is there fuel coming out of the acc pump nozzles?

 

The last failure I had was in a Dodge. It hard spark and fuel. We found oil leaking from the coil, swapped out the coil and all was well... I'm not saying it's your problem, but it is possible. The spark may not be powerful enough.

Inspect the ignition module too. My F100 sat for five years and it somehow developed a crack on the ignition module, which was all fine until I pressure washed the engine bay.. getting water into the module. It was hard to get started and after finally starting it would backfire out the carb, out the exhaust, black smoke.. etc.

 

Haven't worked on the carb, it tried to start before the first mechanic got started, and now nothing. Fuel does pump into the carb.

 

have ya checked that plug wires are in proper firing sequence?

 

Make sure it's on TDC of the compression stroke of the #1 cylinder.

Make sure the rotor is aimed at the #1 plug.

Are you turning the distributor the right way?

Check your firing order?

Accelerator pump functioning?

Change the fuel filter.

Check the choke to make sure it's not sticking shut on backfire.

Check to make sure the spark is good and hot.

Check for vacuum leaks.

Check all your electrical connections.

It needs fuel, spark, air, and compression to light up. If you've got air, compression, and spark, change your fuel filter and rebuild your carburetor.

The new fuel pump only puts out about 5 or 6 psi, MAX, right? Any higher is bad. 6 psi is borderline. 3-5 psi is about perfect.

Should've never let that first "mechanic" put his fingers on that motor.

 

Have you done a compression test?

 

Tried everything else, gonna put a few drops of mystery oil in each plug hole for lube and do a compression test this weekend, it seems to have everyone I know baffled, but it won't beat me it''s just a dang 'ol 302...

 

Just for giggles, try setting the timing again. If I remember right, the #1 cylinder on the 302 should be (as you're standing in front of the truck) the passenger front cylinder closest to the radiator. The cylinders are numbered
P --------- D
4 --------- 8
3 --------- 7
2 --------- 6
1 --------- 5
-- Radiator --

P = passenger side
D = driver's side

Double check that the distributor is turned to the #1 plug wire on the compression stroke.

If you spun it 180 degrees and it tried to fire, you should be able to get it to go by playing with the timing.

Clockwise is retard, counterclockwise is advance.

Just thinking.