Timing Question

[RatedR]

1993 fastback. DOHC

I recently did a head swap, and a new head gasket. I've got the timing all lined up: the distributor is at/near 1 where is should be, the crank timing mark is at the second to the last mark (TDC) and the cams are pointing away from the spark plug on cylinder #1. But for some reason I still cant get the motor to start. It seems like if I remove the fuel pump fuse, it'll want to run. But with the fuel pump on, it wont catch at all..... Timing light shows the correct timing..... Dont know what else to do...Help please

-R

[silencer.1]

Are your fuel lines hooked up to the right tubes? You might have plugged the pump into your return line and the return tube plugged into your feed line. Seems the most logical as once you remove the fuse, the engine can suck fuel through the return line but when it's on, it creates a vacuum. It's worth a try anyways.

[RatedR]

I forgot to add that we got the engine to run, but it was running WAY retarded. Probably 180 at the time. Now i've got the whole thing lined up and no catch. I also noticed that the engine will bind sometimes...would that be because of the starter??? It didnt bind when I rotated it by hand.....

[silencer.1]

Are the plug wires connected properly? A properly timed engine won't run if you have the firing order wrong.

[RatedR]

Yeah man, all that is good. Now the damn thing is bound up to a point that I cant manual crank it or have the starter do it. The starter just likes to make clicking noises. Could it be possible that the starter is going bad and binding the engine up ?

[silencer.1]

Almost sounds like you hydrolocked it. Try removing the plugs and rolling it over. If that doesn't work, your started is probably shot.

[Wraith]

Almost sounds like you hydrolocked it. Try removing the plugs and rolling it over. If that doesn't work, your started is probably shot.

[RatedR]

Well, took it to the shop today. Starter was shot. Guess the damn electric motor couldnt crank the car THAT much. We'll find out what I had wrong when the tech is done.....

[RatedR]

Got it back from the shop. Guy said he heard some knock, not sure which kind, but prolly some valve/piston contact. So what kind of damage am I looking at if I did hydrolock the engine??? His advice was to get a new motor cause this one's bad now. I'm probably goin to rebuild it, but i'm open to suggestions