A bit more from the brain trust, Still need help with starting at the end of rustoration Options

[worn]

Hi folks. Ok, five years and the piles of parts have actually gone back onto the car. And, I er, ah tightened the head nuts to the proper torque. My problem is that it is hard to keep the motor running long enough to tune it. For example timing light.

The problem is that I want to adjust timing and fuel, but The motor isn’t running smooth enough to get there. The motor is a 2056 with the so-called Raby cam from WebCam. The MPS has been messed with, but it ran when parked. Took the motor out to split the case and address oil leaks. One thing led to another and the rust was replaced with yet to rust sheet metal, and paint etc.

I am looking for a starting condition that allows enough running to improve upon. Ideally, I would like the motor to idle somehow. I have a pretty big hint. If before start, with ign on I blip the throttle a few times, the fuel injectors click, and the motor will start, run and die. From this I think that the sparks are there and the injectors are capable of letting out enough gas to fire. The fuel pressure is constant 29 psi, and the injectors have been cleaned and tested. My problem is the MPS and ECU black boxes that govern fueling. I have an AFR gauge, but it would be more useful if the motor ran long enough to get a number to look at.

I am hoping for:
A magic bullet post that says something like clock the seatbelt bolts and it will start,

Or, basic starting adjustments for each thing that can be adjusted or tested. For example, I can static test the timing and measure MPS inductance vs vacuum. What else has to be in line? Head temp resistance value? Throttle TPS switch position or values? You folks comprise so much wisdom, so please let me get the car on the road now that spring is only months away!

[emerygt350]

I don't know Zach, the mps just isn't that sensitive. You can have it way off and the injectors will fire, just not much or too much.

If you want to test the mps, just pull the vacuum hose off of it. That will tell the ECU to go pig rich (wot).

If the cam were the problem we would have too much fuel due to low vacuum at idle.

I couldnt tell from your write up, but did you spin the dizzy with the key on out of the car? Just to see if the injectors are firing when the points tell them to?

Could be a wiring issue too, how old is the harness? Original?

ECU can't be excluded as the culprit at this point of course. Any extras laying around?

Did you do a leak down test on the mps? Check the resistance? And of course triple check the plugs wire order?