All Small Six Help! Did I just screw up my new build?

[pmuller9]

…#1 piston is at TDC, drop the dizzy, line up the mark for first spark plug to the rotor.

TDC on the compression stroke. You have a 50/50 chance

 

[awasson]

TDC on the compression stroke. You have a 50/50 chance

Yep, my super power is to drop it in 180° out first time, every time.
I might as well not even try to get it right

 

[Frank]

Thanks, I’ll try plugging PCV and double checking distributor and spacer. I’m pretty certain I dropped it the right way…#1 piston is at TDC, drop the dizzy, line up the mark for first spark plug to the rotor.
Will come back to it later this week and reinstall everything…

I was using ported vacuum on the front of the carb. But when I was starting it now, vacuum line was disconnected and plugged at the carb.

Verify that you are on #1 compression stroke, not exhaust stroke. both #1 rockers should be slack. Backfire in carb is late ignition timing 95% of the time. If you turned the engine with the distributor out you may be on #1 exhaust cycle, the ignition timing is 180* late if so.
Vacuum advance is not a factor at cranking speed.

 

[drag-200stang]

Make sure that you do not lose the oil pump driveshaft when taking the dist. in and out and it stays in place.

 

[awasson]

Make sure that you do not lose the oil pump driveshaft when taking the dist. in and out and it stays in place.

Yes. This is a critical thing to keep in mind. The previous owner of my car lost the oil pump driveshaft and trashed the crankshaft when he installed a Pertronix ignition module. It must have fallen out when he pulled the distributor. I figured I’d find it in the oil pan but it was nowhere in the engine or any of the parts that came with the car.

 

[WillingnessLimp]

@pmuller9 i must apologize, I actually think you are right…my post Flu brain wasn’t thinking right… I just put piston at TDC and was thinking it’s a compression stroke…
After reading @Frank comment, it’s like a light bulb went out and I was like “shoot, I didn’t check if any of the valves were open”.
Wanted to work on the car so badly, that as soon as I started feeling better (and off work hehe) went to the garage to put it back. I’ll get back to it over the weekend with clear head and recheck everything.
Thanks again for pointing it out!

 

[powerband]

'it can't happen here ...'
.
"Make sure that you do not lose the oil pump driveshaft when taking the dist. in and out and it stays in place.." -- " ... figured I’d find it in the oil pan but it was nowhere in the engine or any of the parts that came with the car."
.
IF/WHEN the distrib drive shaft is dropped into engine with distrib' removal, the shaft can be fairly easily retrieved by a magnet or grabber from pan through the fuel pump boss once pump is removed. ( ask me how I know ) .
.
have fun

 

[drag-200stang]

The things I point out is from experience, Bad experience. You usually do not forget what went wrong. I hope I do not learn anything new that way.