im getting spark at the plugs, ill fix up the carb and try starting again.

 

no matter if you get spark there. if you have gas pouring into the cylinder it'll never fire.
make sure you don't have gas in cylinders (remove all spark plugs). dry the spark plugs. put them back in. make sure the float is set correctly and try again ... good luck :-) you'll be fine. It sounds like carb poured petrol into manifold instead of vaporizing ;-)

 

thanks kalli, i'll try it today.

 

Addendum

I have found with a flooded engine it helps to expell the gas from the cylinders, while you have the plugs out, roll the engine over a few times to blow some of the gas out the sparkplug holes, unplug the coil power wire or move the plug wires from this area, as the wires can ignite expelled fuel....

I hate it when these kind of issues come up at the end of a build......

 

so i just put the carb back on and tried it, nothing, so i removed plugs and cranked, there was quite a bit of gas in the number 8 cylinder. is this only a carburetor problem? could bad gas cause these problems?

 

IDK for sure, but maybe your ignition timing is off?

Even if flooded, you should be able to get a hiccup, cough, or studder from the engine after drying the plugs.

 

I ordered a new timing cover since mine leaks so ill check the timing when i take the old one off.