1993 Mercury Cougar not starting.

[Scotteiboi]

Before I go on here is my car: 1993 Mercury Cougar X-R7 3.8L V6

Ok so here are the basics of whats going on, this was 5 months ago: Before the car had stopped starting I had taken off the spark plug wires
to the distributor because they were blocking my view.....

(I was curious and wanted to know more about my engine, at the time I hadn't noticed anything wrong. There is so much more that could be added here but none of it is relevant because all the symptoms I was encountering lead to a blown head gasket. The problem I am having now is definetly NOT a head gasket.)

My dad and I sat for about 3 hours trying to find the right firing order because I had forgotten the order. We finally got the car started but it had no power. We were then told that it was a blown head gasket. Which indeed it was. But thats not all....

Here is what has recently happened in the past month: We have completely put the engine back together with new head gaskets and such, unfortunatley, the car is in the same position it was when I had taken the wires off, but this time it will not start at all, and there are no sparks coming from 2 of the plug wires (they were just replaced too).

We have checked the firing order dozens of times comparing it to this website: http://autorepair.about.com/library.../bl-fo-8095.htm Could we possibly still have the wrong firing order?

We have replaced the ICM and Ignition Coil and those didn't seem to help, the only other options we have are STILL a wrong firing order, the timing chain has somehow jumped notches, or the distributor needs replacing. (I find it unlikely that the chain is the problem, because it is a chain, not a belt. I could be wrong.)

I'm about to give up on the car because me nor the mechanic working on it can figure out what the hell is wrong. I hope someone can give us a few more tips before I spend anymore money on the thing. Thanks! =)

[Scotteiboi]

Update: Hi there I have good news! We finally got the car started. It was the wrong firing order . That website I listed above is completely off.

Unfortunately I am still having a few minor problems.

When I start the car it will idle between 2000 and 2500 rpms....it scared the hell out of me....and the engine will heat up EXTREMELY fast. So fast and hot that a hose blew and started steaming, the temperature gauge also goes all the way to the right. (I think the thermostat is in backwards, I am waiting for the engine to cool so I can check it.)

As for the idling...could my MAF or TPS have gone bad? Where is the idle adjust screw? Theoretically, is a backwards thermostat telling the engine not to tone down to 800 rpms? I am scared to start it again....

We thought getting it started was a milestone, but really, fixing all the minor problems will be a milestone.

[rhandwor]

After it cools down and the thermostat or what ever fixed. Check all of the hoses and electrical connections are hooked up properly. Don't mess with the idle screw. Was the timing checked after repairs it is hard to get the dist exactly correct after the repairs you did. Check your manual on what to disconnect to time it and then plug back in when done. I think your idle is related to the timing.