What is the car doing excactly? Does the engine turn over? Does it turn over but not turn on? Any after market parts?
I'd start with the basics. Check that the crank and cam are in phase(dots lined up). Then check the #1 cylinder is at TDC on the compression stroke.Do this with the crank key way pointing up. finally, phase your distributor, and check your plug wires for firing order.
Start with the basics: Spark, Compresssion, Fuel. Not knowing what the history is, have you verified that gas squirts when you pull back on the throttle arm? Have you done a compression check? Have you pulled a plug (grounded to the frame), turned it over and verified that a spark jumps the gap? The spark is the hardest, because not only does it need to jump the gap, but it also has to be at the right time. Again to set the timing, start with the basics, align the timing marks on the compression stroke, etc. After you've identified which of the 3 basics is at fault, then you can start with the troubleshooting.
Thanks 69. I've reset the timing TWICE. Replaced the MALLORY electronic dist. I am getting gas. I've checked my battery,coil, ignition system. I know that i'm ok from the ignition to the coil and battery. It seems that i'm getting fire to the dist. but not out. I even pulled the #1 plug wire and check it with a screw driver as well as pulling the plug and grounding it to see if I'm getting spark. I am getting gas. The car ran fine 6 weeks ago. I drove it and then parked it and tried starting it a few days ago when all this came about.
check to see if you have fire at the coil wire. if so then make sure the rotor is installed(yes even pro mechanics make that mistake), and is not leaking voltage to the dist shaft(yes i have seen it happen).
if no fire at the coil then check the coil wire for continuity. if you have no continuity then you have found your problem, the coil wire. if you have continuity, then likely the coil is bad.
You need to have the tach (factory) installed if you have one, or have a jumper installed. Have you put a meter on your coil and starter relay to see if you have 12v? Do you have a ballast resistor on it? Do you have the neutral safety swith either connected or jumped?
Be careful putting the cap on your distributor as the rotors get trashed if you don't keep the cap level when you do the clips.
I know you said you replaced it...but the ignition module in the mallory distubors are pieces of crap. I used to have one go out every time the weather would do a major change which happens a lot in TX. At $80 a pop, it was a lot cheaper to get a MSD dist. If you are getting power to the coil and its going out of the coil...the ignition module is my guess