Stang8URMPRT
Active Member
I had a simliar problem. Turned out to be the cam bolt was rubbing on the timing cover... I have no idea how it happened, but it did... Broke the timing chain and bent 4 pushrods after 100 miles. It finally started after a day or charging the battery after 10-15 seconds of cranking. It rubbed a nice groove in the timing cover, but it caused the cam bolt to loosen (because of the direction it turns, it loosened the bolt), but it did eventually start, and the timing kept going retarded so I knew I had a problem, then bang lol. Oh well. I would do what you said.. pull all the plugs and try to crank it again.. if it turns ok, then it's just compression... if it still does it... You might want to check to see if it's rubbing.
Good luck.
Nick
Nick