I bought an 82 Toyota Pickup

The guy I bought it from said it blew a head gasket and that he had all the spare parts, etc... So a friend and I threw it all together and it doesn't run.
I've checked and checked online to see what it could be...

We set the timing, tdc on compression stroke with the cam at 12 and distributor pointing at #1.

We adjusted the valves to .008 and .012

We replaced the spark plugs and the wires, and we are getting sparks.

We replaced the ground harness from the fender to the frame and from the frame to the motor.

The motor turns over and it doesn't start. (We are getting fuel to the motor, lots.)

It has a weber 32/36 carb, could that be a problem?

 

somtimes of its getting to much fuel it wont run, try holding the gas pedel to the floor when your cranking it over, that helps fix a flooded engine

 

well, when i hold the pedal down and crank it, sometimes fire shoots out the carb and it makes a bad popping sound

 

hydro-lock from flooding maybe? what are the condition of the plugs? are they wet?
might have filled up a cylinder with fuel, i would drain oil and check it out before you burn out your starter.

if you are getting spark and fuel, i would think the fuel to air ratio is what you need to look at. try a different carb, stock or one you know works properly.

 

I checked the spark plugs, they're good. We did a compression test and nothing. How screwed am

 

timing could be 180* out if its poping and fire out the carb

 

no compression in any of the cylinders? well, you're screwed then, lol.

 

That's what I thought. Well, looks like it won't drive anytime soon.

 

Well, got it figured out. The valves were bent to crap. Took the head out and to a local shop, just waiting to hear back, then we'll find out.

 

Yeah you most likely had the cam 180* from where it was supposed to be. Heres a tip for next time..
Turn the engine over by HAND, with the plugs out, and if at any time it stops rotating, then you have issues. Obviously don't try and crank over the engine with a 3 foot cheater bar, just grab the harmonic balancer and turn the engine. Leave the valve cover off when you do this. And if you run into any issues, loosen the cam gear, pop it off, but keep pressure on it, while somebody else turns the engine 1 whole rotation.. Or you can take it all apart, your choice.