No spark on 83 tercel

[Paul]

Sounds like a break is in order. Ditch the sooty plugs and when you are ready to try again, verify TDC and see that the rotor is at number one (not past). If you can see fuel in the sight glass, i would avoid "priming" it. Rather check that pushing the throttle delivers a pump shot and sets the choke.
You'll get it running again. But next time you pull the distributor, take a pic of the rotor's position while set at TDC (the 10:30 position dlb is referring to). It will give you confidence when you reinstall that you're not one tooth off.
EDIT: I updated my description of rotor position at TDC. I remember seeing how the rotor points directly to a diagonal line on the coil dust cover when at TDC, so here's a pic of the "10:30" position:

20241130_161930.jpg

[dlb]

I’ll try it that way but my understanding is that if both can and crank marks are at tdc it should be compression stroke ?i had to make almost 2 complete revolutions for both to line up I wanted to check that t-belt was installed properly. It is…I feel like this car will be the death of me. I also have a 89 corolla all-trac that’s getting bad fuel economy and want to move on to that project but this guy has had me pulling out my hair for months.

Did you get this sorted out yet? I'm curious to know what the issue was.

[80sYodafan]

Finally got it to start and idle! I followed advice and took out plug 1 and cranked the engine around until i felt pressure build and then used an inspection scope to get the piston at highest point. I pulled out the distributor and seemed like the match marks were still aligned. I took off the caps on the distributor and pulled all the plugs and changed them without disturbing the wiring order. I used the match marks again to align distributor and being absolutely certain the bolt was in the middle of range reinstalled the dizzy. I then reinstalled all the caps and rotor double checking everything as I went. I had recharged the battery a couple days ago because I had left the key in the ignition and on the other day when I was messing with it. I got in pumped the gas a couple times and it fired right up! I can’t explain why it spit out a bunch of smoke at first then idled down about where it should if I hit the gas it’s billowing smoke from tailpipe and under the hood. I had it running well enough twice before and each time I drove it around the neighborhood without issue then when I went to take it to emissions both times it died at the bottom of the driveway. So to say I don’t have faith it’ll keep running is an understatement. Probably all the problems stem from doing too many little fixes that were just a little bit wrong? Makes me a bit embarrassed to say but probably all my fault as I never found anything glaringly wrong. I seriously doubt it was the plugs or the timing I’ve seen plugs almost fouled shut and distributor set one tooth off and some of the cars still ran great. I seriously doubt this little guy is that temperamental?