Thread: engine won't start

Hi guys, bought a cheap little sierra to save the disco from constant beach use (doesn't matter if it rust's away) and the engine blew up, we just put a new engine in(the old one was really dead) and now it won't start, turns over but back fires and pops from the exhaust. We've got spark, we've got fuel, i'm thinking ignition timing but how do you check that if you can't get it to start???.
I know this is a landrover forum but any help would be appreciated.

did you have the head off....?

if the valves are ok set the engine to top dead centre number 1 cylinder compression....
then make sure the dizzy is pointing to number one lead.....
if it has points....turn the dizzy slowly till the points just start to open....
and lock it up there.....this is called static timing and is a good starting point.....


before you try and start it...with the dizzy cap still off.....turn the engine over
by hand and make sure the rotor button is turning the right way.....
and make sure the leads are in firing order according to direction of rotation
of the rotor button......

if it still wont start you should do a compression test to make sure the valves
are closing......