ya- not a big motor but still mopar

buddy rebuilt his 1966 Valiant - heads done- all buttoned backup as per manual- new cam shaft to

problem- starter spins it over like crazy- lots of spark and fuel

but I'm 100 % sure there is no compression in any cylinder- checked with plug out- nodda thing.

he swears he followed the manual in setting up the cam.

he used to race and rebuild big blocks and hemi's.

any thoughts out there???

Rocker adjustment way out of whack?

I'd (1) pull valve cover/spark plugs (2) turn eng dampener till #6 rocker arms are both moving & are at the same height (rockover),(actually pushrod height might be more dead on on a mech cam if the gap is adjusted way out of whack) but see how it looks/goes. (3) dampener slit should be within a degree or two of TDC on the timing tab (symmetrical cam) (4) at that point rotor should be pointing to #1 cap terminal (5) if at #6 he's 180 out. With all that crankin he might wanna regoop the cam. EDIT What Swinger said, rocker adj is .010" intake/.020" ex. tho not sure if those are hot or cold specs but if very close then the dist and or cam is phased wrong.

Sounds like the adjustments were made as if it was a hydraulic cam, and the lifters are solid type.

Either the lifters are adjusted way too tight and the valves are not closing or it's put together wrong in the timing set area.

He didn't by any chance buy a hydraulic cam package from Clifford did he? If he has hydraulic lifters with adjustable rockers and pushrods the lifters will never get oil.

If he degreed the cam when he installed it it is very easy to use the #1 exhaust instead of the #1 intake too.

A Slant cam has to be pretty far off to lose enough compression that it won't at least fire.