changed vacuum advance now 425 wont start

i replaced my vacuum advance on my 66 olds 425...hoping it would solve my going out of time problem. i had to pull the distributor to replace it. i marked the distributor...but somehow it wouldnt start. the car ran before so i assumed i put the distributor in wrong. thinking it was 180 degrees off i turned it around. the car backfired through the carb (scared the ** out of me) so i assumed then it was 180 degrees off. lined up my timing marks to what i think is tdc and put the distributor in again this time lined up with plug #1. still a no start. i beleive im getting spark and i know im getting gas. but im not getting it to start...not even close. i had to remove the points and condensor to install the vacuum. did i screw up the points and that why it wont start? am i an idiot? im just glad its winter here in ct and i wouldnt be driving the old ragtop anyways....however i have to do a brake job on my blazer and need the garage space for a few hours. help
thanks...please email me any ideas to [email protected]

hey
when you put your points back in did you gap them? the other thing i can think of is cap and rotor need to be replaced. another is if its not getting spark is the coil could be trashed. or since its nice and warm in ct at this time (bull$%!^ im from mass) is the choke on your carb working right. thats a problem i used to have when i tried to start my car in the cold. at the moment that cars in pieces so i dont have that problem this year. well if these dont work let me know and ill see what else i can think up. have fun and good luck.
chris
71Cnet, AF

Likely either the distributor shaft and body is in the wrong location, or the points are not set up right. Each time the points are removed you must set up the points gap, static timing and dwell. I would suggest using a proper timing light and a dwell tachometer. Most older service manuals will outline the correct method to measure and set these up. Try searching on - line for instructions. However, without these tools your car will likely run poorly, no matter how much you tinker with it.

turns out my points were shot!! so i picked up another set (25 bucks! they used to be a bout 10 bucks) to my suprise they were in stock!! i threw on a new cap and rotor for good measure. put the distributor back in and it fired right up....except to my suprise i had no exhaust! i guess when i put the distributor in 180degrees off and it backfired i blew my muffler out and blew the exhaust pipe off the manifold. when big blocks backfire they dont mess around...lets see a honda do that. now needles to say i have to figure out what i want to do for a new exhaust system...its time for some duals

update...its been awhile but i thought id update this post. it ended up being a worn distributor shaft. any local auto part store can get ya a rebuilt stock distributor for like 30 bucks for this car (66 425cid) i popped it in and it made a world of difference. i fought that old distributor for 3 years wandering why i was always re-setting the timing. live and learn. i did however master the skill of setting my dwell. also (after blowing up my exauhst) i added a sweet dual exhaust setup with some turbo mufflers and my car can finally breathe like it was made to do...and now it sounds like it looks!

update...its been awhile but i thought id update this post. it ended up being a worn distributor shaft. any local auto part store can get ya a rebuilt stock distributor for like 30 bucks for this car (66 425cid) i popped it in and it made a world of difference. i fought that old distributor for 3 years wandering why i was always re-setting the timing. live and learn. i did however master the skill of setting my dwell. also (after blowing up my exauhst) i added a sweet dual exhaust setup with some turbo mufflers and my car can finally breathe like it was made to do...and now it sounds like it looks!
It's funny you mention that. I struggled with a '68 Olds 455 (in an '81 Caddy) that had major driveability problems........If I set up the timing for an easy start, there was no top end power........time it for good power, and the starter would 'hang up' like too much initial timing..............yet the advance did work.
It all got fixed with a rebuilt distributor, but only after 20k miles of miserable driving and 2 burned-up starters.