68 f100 wont start

[chrispy]

A friend of mine just got this truck and can't get it running. has new plugs, wires, cap, rotor, points, carb overhaul, fuel filter. Checked compression, highest hole is 130 lowest is 110. when trying to start it makes an attempt then dies. do my compression readings suck? what else should We check?
Thanks for any help

[greenbank]

Those aren't the greatest compression numbers I've seen, but it should run fine on those, they're almost or just barely within the "15%" rule, and the PSI is better than some running engines I've had (I've run a six with 85 lbs across all six before...).

Did this truck run before (as in, did you guys just do some work on it?) or was it bought non-running? Fuel and spark. Are you getting a good fat blue spark from each plug? Are they in the right order? Timing within range?

Carb may just be so far out it won't start. Manual choke or automatic?

[chrispy]

he got the truck and it did not run. It has enough spark to jump the .030 gap and i checked the firing order and timing and they are good

[flyboy2610]

There are three things necessary to make an engine run: Air, fuel, and spark.
You have spark. So it's either air or fuel. Disconnect the fuel line at the carburetor and crank the engine. If you have a good stream of fuel at the line, I would recommend a thorough cleaning and rebuild of the carb.
If the truck has sat for a while, the old gas may have gummed up in the carb and clogged fuel passages.
If you have don't get a good stream of gas at the carb, replace the fuel filter (not a bad idea to do so anyway) and try again. If no results, replace the fuel pump. Work your way back to the tank replacing and cleaning until you get fuel at the carb.
It'll take work but you'll get it.
How did you check the timing if the engine isn't running?

[Faithful Old Road Dog]

Flyboy, I think you're missing the 4th. Compression.

It would be Air, fuel, compression, ignition.

Wires and timing were checked. Like you said, check the fuel. Could be bad gas, clogged fuel line or filter, or bad pump.

[chrispy]

with the mechanical fuel pump should my stream of fuel be steady or come in spurts?

['75-4x4guy]

at starter cranking speed the fuel will come out in spurts , which is ok

[spartman]

A quick way to see if you have spark and no fuel would be to either spray starter fluid (just a short burst or two) and see if the truck will run then.
Another way would be to pour a little gas down the carb and see if it will run.

If it fires either way you have plenty of spark and no gas.

I know if the thing has sat awhile the fuel might not have gotten sucked all the way up to the carb yet, and if you get the truck running that will make the fuel pump run faster and get the fuel up to the carb.

Use to do this all the time to our older farm trucks that only saw action a few times a year.