1985 ford mustang wont start

Help!! I have done and checked the following
new wires from dist. to plugs
checked plugs all ok
checked msd box by myself and at the dealer ok
checked coil ok but just in case i replaced it msd blaster oil filled
have spark from coil to distributor
no spark from distributor to spark wires
replaced distributor with a rebuilt one
checked carb. hooley double pumper has gas
checked ignition wire to msd 12 volts
checked hot wire too msd,checked ground
car still wont start..help
thanks

sounds like a rotor problem if you have spark from coil to dist but not dist to plugs. make sure that's all in order. take the cap off and make sure it's lined up properly (and that it's there!).

i mforgot i put a new cap and rotor in also

Are you sure its not firing or is it just not starting? If you pulled the distributor did you put the new one back in the same way, in the same position, with the rotor button pointing in the right direction?

Are you sure its not firing or is it just not starting? If you pulled the distributor did you put the new one back in the same way, in the same position, with the rotor button pointing in the right direction?
we brought the car to top dead center the rotor pointing toward #1 on the distr.cap ran the wires as per h.o. in the book i have an ignition tester i tested the coil to the distributor i got a light which means power but when i test the plug wires no light which means no spark i dont even get a backfire which should happen if my timing is off

this isn't making much sense to me... perhaps you have bad points or something? did you test all of the wire contacts with the tester? did you get spark on any of them? sounds to me like you could have a bad rotor or rotor contact point on top of the cap.

this isn't making much sense to me... perhaps you have bad points or something? did you test all of the wire contacts with the tester? did you get spark on any of them? sounds to me like you could have a bad rotor or rotor contact point on top of the cap.
which wire contacts i will go and buy a new rotor and cap but i just bought this one last week is the rotor suppose to make contact with the center contact point and the point on the dist or just be close?

Just be real close.

Timing would be my first guess. Did the 85 use a TFI at all, if so perhaps thats your problem?

Timing would be my first guess. Did the 85 use a TFI at all, if so perhaps thats your problem?
I was just going to ask that too. Also, are you sure it was at #1 TDC and not 180* off?

I was just going to ask that too. Also, are you sure it was at #1 TDC and not 180* off?

LoL, beat ya to it. Hey, interesting sig u got there.

Yeah that kid was a tool. His IM's to me proved it even more, so I posted one of them. lol

Sounds stupid, but have you made sure that the rotor is turning? Because if you have a turning rotor, and spark from the coil to the cap, then the spark should definately be going through the cap/rotor to the wires. BUT if for some stupid reason the rotor isnt turning (such as the pin the gear on the dist. is sheared off...rare, but i'm sure its possible) then you wont be getting spark to the plug wires.
Why don't you start off by telling everyone how this problem came about. Did you buy the car like this? Did it all of the sudden stop running one day? Did you change something somewhere right before this problem?

Sounds stupid, but have you made sure that the rotor is turning? Because if you have a turning rotor, and spark from the coil to the cap, then the spark should definately be going through the cap/rotor to the wires. BUT if for some stupid reason the rotor isnt turning (such as the pin the gear on the dist. is sheared off...rare, but i'm sure its possible) then you wont be getting spark to the plug wires.
Why don't you start off by telling everyone how this problem came about. Did you buy the car like this? Did it all of the sudden stop running one day? Did you change something somewhere right before this problem?
My son was driving heard a backfire out of the carb. i got it to start once but when he revved it it died. we checked the msd box at horsepower sales it was ok i replaced the coil just in case with a blaster oil filled it did not work changed rotor and cap did not work, changed spark wires still the same,rotor is turning. changed the distributor rechecked timing rotor pointing to # 1 at top dead center still not coming on i will rebuy rotor and cap to see if that is the problem as i get spark to the center of the dist but not to the wires

Like Drevil said, make sure the pin isn't sheared. I've heard of several people shearing this pin, especially if you have a high volume oil pump.
I made a mistake in my first post, forgot about the oil pump... to check, remove the distributor and while holding the rotor try to spin the cam gear.
If everything is fine there, I'd give another good look at the fuel system. check line pressure, check your fuel bowl levels. If you have another carb you can try, do it. Even if its not suited for the motor, just anything to try.
Another question, how did you check to see if your sparkplugs are firing?

If I had to guess, I'd say a sheared pin. Sounds exactly like it. Backfires while running right when the pin shears and timing goes off... is able to start at idle a few times since the pin will catch enough to spin the rotor, but when revved it breaks free again. My money is on a sheared pin.

Like Drevil said, make sure the pin isn't sheared. I've heard of several people shearing this pin, especially if you have a high volume oil pump.
I made a mistake in my first post, forgot about the oil pump... to check, remove the distributor and while holding the rotor try to spin the cam gear.
If everything is fine there, I'd give another good look at the fuel system. check line pressure, check your fuel bowl levels. If you have another carb you can try, do it. Even if its not suited for the motor, just anything to try.
Another question, how did you check to see if your sparkplugs are firing?

If I had to guess, I'd say a sheared pin. Sounds exactly like it. Backfires while running right when the pin shears and timing goes off... is able to start at idle a few times since the pin will catch enough to spin the rotor, but when revved it breaks free again. My money is on a sheared pin.
i originally pulled the distributor every yhing is ok as the rotor turns i even bought a new distributor and installed it. w ebrought the engine to top dead center and pointed the rotor to the number one position on the dist. i will probably have it towed to mustang specialties in florida because i am stumped. p.s i replaced the rotor no luck. still have spark to the center point of the dist. but not to any plugs.