I posted this in the motor forum, but not much response. Here goes. Changed out left side exhaust manifold gasket. I pulled all the plug wires, removed the header, cleaned the surface, put in new gasket sealed it up. Now, got distracted from my daughters and her friends, but before that I replaced a damaged plug. Came back to truck and tried to start it thinking everything was wrapped up. Well truck starts, runs real bad, give it a little gas and she dies! Well I forgot to put the plug wires back on the plugs, all 4! No problem, put them back on and go to fire and no start. Not even a pop out of the motor. Well after 3 hours of trouble shooting what could be wrong, I had fuel, spark, etc. I finally decided to turn the distrubuter. Well I got her to start with 30 deg BASE timing, I give it gas she runs like crap. I can even bring it back to the original timing marks, give it gas and she dies, and will not re-start. Have to advance timing again. I am at a total loss. Now before you tell me to check my plug wires for firing order, I have done it all! This is a built 351 with carb, MSD6A, headers, .030 over. Timing is fine, checked #1 @TDC, all valves closed, timing mark aligns perfect, rotor pointing at #1. I have pulled the dizzy looking for a spun gear on the shaft, replaced the timing base and magnetic pick-up. The plug wires are Ford Racing, they are labeled 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8, pretty hard to screw up, besides wires switched it will still start just run bad. I have done it all for 1 week. I am leaning towards the MSD module got shot from the wires being un-hooked and 30,000 volts looking for a home! I ran a self diagnostic test on the module. But this is done with the engine not running, and it passed. I will be contacting MSD in the morning (monday) and see what they say. Does anybody have any thoughts what-so-ever? I have already looked for any vacuum leaks as well. Anything you got, let me have it, I will try it!
Al

 

You said its a built 351?
Was it built with a cam that has a 302 firing order ?
I have seen this before some cam makes have a 351 cam 302 firing order check cam card for cam.

 

The motor has 200 miles on it, and ran like a scalded dog before this. It ran incredible, fired right up, no engine turning over to start, just started! This is what makes this whole issue so screwy. A stupid mistake apparently screwed it up! I have checked firing orders, wires, dizzy, valve relation to TDC, Dampner, the only thing it could possibly be, I think, is the MSD ign. module.
Al

 

check to see if it has jumped time? Just a thought.

 

I did, everything is fine. I am totally lost by this. I am sure though that it is going to be something stupid!
Al

 

sounds stupid but if its a holley carb i would start there i have had nothing but trouble with my carb had it rebuilt again and it ran fine for a few weeks then i get the shake again they are known to go at the drop of a hat (needle valve stuck from dirt etc
good luck

 

Four plug wires w/ full MSD6A voltage straight to ground with nearly zero resistance? I'd say you fried the module/coil. Thats a lot of juice popping around the engine bay to not have some ill effect.

 

I'd go with Streak on this one. Fried module, Check and replace.