1969 Ranchero GT

TDC on compression stroke. not exhaust.
bump engine with coil disconnected and place thumb over #1 spark plug hole. when you get compression, you'll feel it. that is the compression stroke. you should be around TDC and rotor should be near that plug wire contact.
if you still get backfire out exhaust, you have further timing issue or exhaust valve hanging a bit open. how did you set valve lash?

 

and what burnin said about the proper fire order for early and late model 302/Windsor engines.

 

I should also add, do NOT set the points too wide -- else they won't close at all. ~.016 at the points themselves is about right. Then check you have a spark at each plug wire.

Seriously, toss the points distributor and replace with a Duraspark. I have been told that it is possible to re-use the existing wires+cap if you toss the extender+cap+rotor, replace them with the earlier parts (haven't tried this yet).

If all that is correct then you can try to start it with a teaspoon of gas into each (front) carb bores. You should get firing if all the earlier stuff is good.

 

I have the points set to .017. I have the correct firing order. All I did for the valves was tighten the rocker arms down. I know I was at TDC because both valves on the number one cylinder were closed.

 

Here are some pictures of my distributor cap. wondering if it looks good to you guys

 

Your problem is tightening the rockers down. when the lifters pump up with oil the valves are staying open. Get the book out and start over loosen all and rattle the push rods up and down don't spin them when up and down stops go 3/4 turn more and stop. Follow the firing order. When

 

TDC on the compression stroke. your two valves closed could also be at the exhaust stroke.
set valve lash with lifters on base circle of the cam.
do the "exhaust valve open, intake closed" for each cylinder. then set the exhaust valve "when intake valve is closing"
there is also a sequence for setting valves by turning the crank 90 degs. so you wont have to turn the enigne over so many times.

 

^^ why is the distributor cap ground off on the edge?

 

Distributor was 180 out. Then my fuel pump got mulched, so I put a holley electric pump on it. Runs great and super loud

 

What should I time the engine to? I'm thinking it should be the 1972 spec that the heads are. But i dont know for sure if it should be to the 72 heads or the 83 block. I gapped the points and spark plugs to the 72 specs and that seems to work.

 

you found the exhaust stroke. good to see you have TDC on compression now.
you will time the engine based from the cam specs. my guess would be 10 degs BTDC. be sure to disconnect the vacuum advance when using the timing light.
heads do nothing really than hold valves closed.

 

Oh Vasili ... didn't I ask you about 15 posts back if you had correctly stabbed cyl-1 with the distributor? Very first question? And you assured me you had?? Tsk, tsk.

About 10 degrees BTDC would be a good place to start with timing. Try adding more, until a warmed-up motor makes it difficult to crank, that means you have gone too far. Note, these are small adjustments.

 

Interesting ...............

 

Lol forgive me bush. Us greek folk are as stubborn as they come. Sometimes I should just listen. Your advice is helpful as always

 

OK, not a problem. I am curious to know what you did about the block missing the adapter for the linkage? Did you find a fix for that bit?

 

that cap looks like the edges have been ground off ,and places on the inside show signs of scrapin, get a new one

 

did you go back over the rockers that looked like you had bottomed out ??????????,that will cause backfire for sure

 

x2 on that cap.

 

Bush, I put some steel stik on it and it seems to be holding so far. Eventually i'll weld it to the block.
I'll get a new cap and yes Andre I went back and checked the bottomed out rockers and re-installed them