22r motor won't start need help

i changed the head gasket. the timing is all correct, the motor will turn over sand occasionally start but then it just dies immeditally. i talked to a local mechanic shop and they said check the fuel does anyone else have any other ideas.

Is your valve lash adjusted correctly? Or possibly a vaccuum leak? What vaccuum reading do you get after hooking a vaccuum gauge to your manifold while cranking engine? If you let me know the reading it will give me a better idea what we are looking at and I can better assist you. I will watch for your reply or you can e-mail me at [email protected]
P.S. Also,... note change of reading on gauge should engine start.

All right, here is the deal. There is a few things that might be faulty in this case:
1.throttle position sensor/switch
2.fuel injector clogged/failed
3.fuel pressure regulator low
4.coolant temperature sensor
5. mass air flow meter/sensor (MAF) (this is what you really don't want to have - several hundred to replace)
From what you saying I believe it is one of 2 things: fuel pressure regulator low - remedy: to replece fuel pressure regulator.
or mass air flow meter - it can fail if the car was sitting outside for a while. You can buy a multimeter and just check the voltage on the old one. I think it has to be around 4.5 - 5.0V but I'm not sure. One thing with MAF - they don't tolerate air leaks. Check all the hoses.
I hope that will help. Let me know how it worked out for you.