pulled dizzy, put back in, won't start

[dlb]

i just put the dizzy back in reggie and it won't start. it ran fine just before i took it out so i believe i'm just missing something stupid but can't figure it out. i pulled the plugs, rotated the crank to TDC, looked to see that the first piston was at the top of it's compression stroke, and put the dizzy in, making sure that the rotor was pointing to the first cylinder point (or whatever you call it) at about 10 o'clock. plugged in the dizzy's green electrical plug, hooked up the vac advance lines, gave it throttle, but it just turned over with no firing whatsoever. set it to TDC again, took the cap off the dizzy, saw the rotor was point at the 4th cylinder point (about 4 o'clock). didn't think this would make a difference since the 1st and 4th cylinders are on compression strokes simultaneously but i pulled the plugs again just to confirm this and i was right. pulled the dizzy again and put it back with the rotor pointing to the 1st cylinder point again, still nothing.

any ideas what i might be missing? i don't have anyone around to help me check for spark right now or i would do that.

[Petros]

The one and four cylinders ARE NOT on the compression stroke at the same time. One is on exhaust stroke, one is on compression. There are two times the timing mark is at TDC relative to the no. 1 cylinder, one is compression stroke (TDC) the other is on exhaust stroke when valves are 'teetering" between exhaust and intake. The car will not run if you put the spark pointing at no. 1 cylinder when it is just finishing exhaust stroke, it must be on compression stroke.

Easiest way to tell is put your finger on the spark plug hole while rototating towards TDC, you will get air pushing past your finger. Also you can remove the valve cover and verify both int. and ex valves are closed (clearance in the rocker arm).

I presume you verified you have spark? Just to make sure you did not break something when you removed it. But it sounds like you just have it 180 deg off.

[dlb]

weird, i must have had it right to begin with before i rotated the rotor 180* but just not given enough gas. i did the finger trick and got the timing roughly set again but still had trouble starting it until i stood on the gas for a while. i guess i had been too cautious of flooding it initially. it had been sitting for a while.

anyway, running well now. huzzah!