Comp cams website says is that is the right firing order for the thumpers. Are you checking your spark at the plug wire or at the coil, you should be checking it at the plug. And a timing light will let you know if your distributor is way off and that you have spark to the plug.

Just to make sure you are using the ford numbering pattern. I am certain you are but i just want to make sure you know.

1 2 3 4
<---- front
5 6 7 8

If your timing is right, you have spark to the plugs and gas in your manifold. I would check compression thats the only thing left that could keep you from running.

 

I take back what i said about the comp cams website. I was looking at the 351 thumpers. The big mother thumper is a 289/302 cam. Give the 302 firing order a try, after 5 days you got nothing to loose but 10 minutes of your time. 1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8

 

Figured it out. BuckeyeDemon was right. somebody, at some point and time put adjustable rocker studs on the heads! I thought 351w were non-adjustable which they are stock, but these ones arn't. did a compression test and i'm pretty sure i didn't bend any valves. i'll fix it today and let you guys know. thanks

 

Nevermind, missed the last page...

 

I was going to say, it sounds like it's fllooded to me....

 

So you have the rockers cranked all the way down?