[checkmate427]

Chevy 350 early 80s crate motor, 240hp 9/1 compression nothing special.

HEI Distrubutor
Timing set at 10 degrees BTDC according to the mark on the balancer, lined up the tower with #1 spark plug to the rotor(which was point toward the #1 cylinder)

How did I find TDC, air rushing out of #1 and both valves are closed.

typical GM Firing order 18436572, double and triple checked them.

Brand new Edelbrock 600 cfm carb, plenty of fuel at the carb.

It has a vaccum advance on the distributor that I've plugged, and both ports for vaccum advance have caps on the carb. I have read it's easier to just plug them when trying to figure out initial startup.

Compression
D --------- P
1 110 2 - 120
3 100 4 - 120
5 90 6- 120
7 100 8 - 120
(cold, obviously it won't start so I can't warm it up first)

Confirmed spark is getting to the plugs.
New plug wires, old ones had zero resistence new ones are ok.

Video of what it's doing when I try to start it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyuT1_PjaBE


I'm sure I'm missing something dumb, because this is my first attempt at old school technology.

HELP!

[T-bucket23]

Sounds like you dont have power to the distributor when you release the key. Just to test try running a jumper wire to the bat post on the distributor from the + battery terminal.
Also a little more istory on what you have done may help

[checkmate427]

Originally Posted by T-bucket23

Sounds like you dont have power to the distributor when you release the key. Just to test try running a jumper wire to the bat post on the distributor from the + battery terminal.
Also a little more istory on what you have done may help

That's exactly what it was. Thank a million.

Story on the car is, it's a 1954 Corvette that my Grandfather bought back in 1961. He swapped in a v8 back shortly after buying the car for $300. This is the one he and my grandmother drove and drove a lot putting over 400,000 miles on it. He had over 30 corvettes and was the #5 founding member of the NCRS. Sadly this car sat for 10-15 years due to his failing health. My brother and I inherited the car last summer. Our plan is to get it out on the road where in belongs.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtL4XemaC-w

[T-bucket23]

Originally Posted by checkmate427

That's exactly what it was. Thank a million.

Story on the car is, it's a 1954 Corvette that my Grandfather bought back in 1961. He swapped in a v8 back shortly after buying the car for $300. This is the one he and my grandmother drove and drove a lot putting over 400,000 miles on it. He had over 30 corvettes and was the #5 founding member of the NCRS. Sadly this car sat for 10-15 years due to his failing health. My brother and I inherited the car last summer. Our plan is to get it out on the road where in belongs.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtL4XemaC-w

thanks for posting back, glad I could help. There no always that easy