Timing issues..any ideas?

I set em by ear. But, for now, let's say it sounds too far retarded. Forget the mark. It may have slipped if it's a rubber ring balancer, or off the wrong year motor. Advance that pooch (the same direction the vacuum advance pulls), and see if it sounds "happier" or not. A little more maybe until it fires, or cranks too slow like it's too advanced. This is all contingent on you having working components from somewhere like carb, distributor, etc. Do you KNOW these are good? I recently sold a motor out of my car complete, so i had some "unkowns" in the new motor. Sure as shit i had a bad starter, fuel pump, AND distributor. And i too was worried about wiping the cam with all that cranking

 

Dumb question. You sure on firing order? The right direction? Some motors have 1234 on one bank and 5678 on the other, while others are odd on one bank and even on the other. Some have # 1 on left, some on right. PS-i've had some serious shit with FACTORY points distributors. It's possible you've out tricked yourself with all that unneccessary ignition

 

I would check a few things. First I would make sure the index of your timing mark on your balancer. As in relation to your #1 piston...for true TDC. I would also re-check for proper set up on your firing order. Meaning check for correct position of the rotor to cylinder per the firing order.Are you sure that you have each cylinder firing at the correct time? I am not sure what the Ford order is but I would rotate it by hand with the valve covers and dizzy cap off and start by going to #1 firing and check it to another cylinder. For example: on my Mopar stuff when #1 is up on TDC for firing, #6 will be up as well just ready to Intake just passed the exhaust stroke (check for correct valve orientation). I would go through the whole sequence just to clarify your cam/valve timing. Check the piston location to your valvetrain operation. Like I told you on the phone, I still think you have a timing issue. Have you checked for spark? I know you said you put in a new module. Are you sure that is still operating properly after the first 5 second fire with your dad, do you know you still have good spark? I am not there to hear the cranking patterns but I have had nightmares trying to figure out an all the sudden no start and its something stupid like the coil wire or the coil itself...Check all the stupid little shit and basically at this point I would start at point 0 and go from there. It sounds like the E-85 will have issues with the cold starting. Also by now I am sure your cam (pre) lubrication is nill so I would be careful with (excessive) cranking it over. I think I remember you telling me that your primed the oil pump, but maybe you should do that again.....I hope this makes sense. Feel free to call me and if you need a hand let me know and I can make a trip that way. Have you tried Libby?? He may be able to steer you in the right direction and probably even come up and lend you a hand. Like I said I would start at the beginning and re check everything...its most likely something stupid that was overlooked. Good luck and if need be you can trailer it down here and put it in my shop and drive it to Autorama come March........