Have you checked top dead center on the distributor to see if it had jumped time. If the timing chain is worn badly 1 backfire can make it jump a few teeth.

 

like the other guy just posted you need to check the timing. if you keep pouring gas down the intake then its getting the plugs wet and that's making things worse. fill the carb use some spray and put some jumper cables on it from another source to get the cranking speed up.

 

Can this be checked without a timing light? Waiting to see if we can borrow one.

 

you can kinda get it close. pull the plug on number 1 cyl and rotate it to TDC checking for pressure to come out the plug hole. then line up the timing tab to zero deg's. then check the relation with the rotor to number 1 cyl and adjust the distributor to give it some advance. hth

 

Yes, what Redark said. Pull #1 plug and rotate around until it is on the compression stroke, then pull the cap on the distributor and see where the rotor is pointed. It should be aimed at where the number one spark plug is.

 

He got it running! Pumped fuel directly out of a jerry can instead of the tank, and fixed the firing order

It still takes some coaxing to get it fired up, but once it's going it actually sounds pretty good. Will add video soon!

 

that's great to hear, one ataboy for him.