1983 Plymouth Reliant No Start Timing

sounds like maybe you have you camshaft timed 180degrees out i always double and triple check my timing marks whenever i do anything with the timing and then i have an assistant check it as well you can never be to safe with timing another problem might be that you have your valves adjusted way too tight and they are staying open this would explain the no compression but there is one other thing i'm not sure if this is an interference motor or not but if it is and the timgin was set 180 degrees out you may have knocked a hole in one of the pistons and that could cause the no compression

We started with the pistons in TDC then aligned the cam, put the timing belt on and tryed starting the car. It wouldn't start so we put the piston back in TDC without taking the timing belt off and the cam was turned halfway aroung, 180 degrees out. We fixed the timing two more times and the same thing happened. The way we are getting TDC is from the bellhousing.

ok here whats happening a camshaft spins at half the rotation of the crankshaft in other words for every revolution of the camshaft the crankshaft spins twice so you may find when you turn the crankshaft to tdc that the camshaft is 180 degrees out thats ok turn the crankshaft again to tdc and see if the alignment marks line up also i think you should be checking your marks on the front of the engine not at the bellhousing i dont think thats helping your problem either and to tell you the truth i just found out this is a single overhead cam you couldnt be 180 degrees out becouse that would still be dead on if you were exactly 180 degrees out so disregard that. however your method of timing the engine is sounds wrong start back at the timing belt side of the engine check the timing marks this will insure you have the proper timing also once again you need to check your valve adjustments this could be most of you problem i would also do a verbal check to make sure you have fuel and spark as well [/code]

also when you set your timing marks you nneed to check your distributor and make sure that the rotor is pointed at #1 cylinder once you have set valve clearences and adjusted timing properley you should be set if you still do not have any combustion you need to look at the fuel system, ignition wiring , and your intake system for restrictions or idle solenoids not actuating

Thanks for the tip. We went over the timing again and then checked the wiring. we have a few wires in the wrong place. thats why it wasing firing. it starts now but doesnt idle right. so we have to go and fix the vacumme hoses and get them all in the right place. thanks for the help.