I wouldn't even hook it up for break in. Start it, let run for the desired time, let it cool, and then perform your tuning.

 

So it sounds like it's a matter of taste then. I can live with that.

Does the distributor look crooked to you guys? I've stabbed it like three times. It does rock a tiny bit but if there is a gap (it's hard to see) it can't be more than 1/32". I'm going to have another go at it. Maybe I missed the oil pump.

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Okay, I pulled it and measured both sides of the hole to the top of the intake manifold. There's enough difference to account for the lean. Moving on....

 

Quit stressing. Fire that thing! Damn, I wish I was you!

 

Uhh maybe not right now you don't.

She won't fire. It sputtered for a second then backfired out the carb (more like a small "poof"), then nothing. I checked my wiring and, lo and behold, I had mixed up #4 and #8 on the cap. Fixed that, double checked the rest again and tried to crank it. Nothing this time, not even a poof. I was afraid to wipe the cam so I stopped.
I suppose it's possible that I had the engine on the exhaust stroke when I stabbed the dist. but I double checked that as well. Yet, I think that's my next move, don't you think? I can see gas in the filter (in-line and clear) and the battery is fully charged.

OH! Oh oh, and the tail lights are on. Even with the key removed. I noticed that after. What did I "f" up? I ran from the 12v terminal on the fuse block through the firewall and to the distributor "bat" terminal.
Suggestions?

 

A couple more prep things I did:
I squeezed about 2 oz of gas into the float bowl and just a squirt into the primaries.
I noticed the choke was fully closed so cracked it about 1/16" and tried it again. It wants to fire, gets really close but then doesn't.
How much cranking is too much for a new cam?

 

Try advancing the timing a little bit. You didn't wipe out the cam, quit worrying.

 

I don't think you are going to hurt the cam by cranking the motor. Sounds like you may have missed the timing a bit. Have you turned the distributor each direction (adv, retarded) while cranking?

 

I stabbed the dist. with the crank at 10 degrees btdc. More?

Hard to do by myself. I assume I can change and then crank, change it and then crank.

Thanks guys! I was really worried about the new cam.

Note: I'm definitely getting fuel, I can see it in the primaries when I actuate the accelerator pump.

 

Yes a bit more. If it's firing and back firing through the carb it may be 180 out. Pull the distributor and rotate the rotor 180 degrees and reinstall the dist.

 

Did this 'once' when I was about 22. Rebuilding the motor on my 66 442. I had always owned Chebby's, with the clockwise dist rotation. When I went to put the cap back on the dist to fire it up, I accused my friend of messing with me, cause the wires were going counterclockwise....... so I changed them........ same kind of thing, sounded like it wanted to start, but wouldn't. Took off the cap again and had friend bump the starter....... DOH........ put the wires back in CC rotation and it started right up............