I must be losing my touch or my mind. This 502 has A 263/263 686 108 LSA cam in it and ran not that long ago. I pulled the engine for a new tranny install and did nothing else to it.

So, I pull the valve cover, hand turn the engine until the intake valve closes on number 1, continue to TDC, check the piston to see that it's up and then stab the dist. You'd think it'd be pretty close to TDC with the light right? Well, it's at about 20* and the car won't idle at all. It spits once in a while either back through the carb or out the exhaust, huh? When I retard it to around -35 it runs a bit better but still won't idle. WTH?

So, I check the bowls and they were dry looking. I adjust them and have fuel showing just at the bottom of the sight holes after the engine dies. If I keep pumping the throttle, the car will run but at higher 3K+ RPM and will not idle or run below that. Fuel pressure is 8.5 PSI at the carb (Dominator).

What am I missing here?

Huge vacuum leak.......

No vacuum leak, no sources to leak from. Neither the carb or manifold has a port so I run an electric pump for brakes. I'm looking for a decent spacer with burst panels that would have a port or at least a spot to drill and tap one. I can't remember if I got the 4-7 swap on this cam and cannot find the spec sheet anywhere. I don't think I did but....,