has the engine ever run for you, or did you buy it non-running ?

when piston is up, it could be on the compression stroke or the exhaust stroke, so if its never run, its possible that prev owner has distributor 180 out. but don't assume that and don't pull the dist because if that's not the problem you'll go about 10 steps backwards.

4 requirements of running are fuel, compression, spark, and timing.

 

And it won't fire with starting fluid????? That seems entirely off the wall. You have everything you need..... it should at least make some flavor of internal combustion noises...... are you spraying the starting fluid directly into the OPEN throttle body?

 

if its never run, and nothing positive happens, then remove the valve covers and spin the motor and see if the valve train is working.

 

I know it has run recently because I found the previous owner broken down in the middle of the road. They ran out of gas, put more in it, it fired up and died after about 5 minutes.

 

My next idea is to unplug the injectors and try starting fluid, in case of bad gas.

 

Would really old gas prevent it from firing at all?

 

Valve train is good. You can feel exhaust pressure while cranking.

 

YESS!!!!!!! We have a sign of life!! Unplugged all the injectors, sprayed starting fluid in the injectors, and it gave me a couple of little coughs!! They put bad gas in it I guess.

 

**i mean I sprayed starting fluid in the TB

 

Runs some gas out and look at it and smell. It still should have tried something even if gas was good. Did you check fuel pressure with gauge? If so, what did it read?