58 Saratoga won't start

I have a four door 58 toga that has been sitting in the back of my yard for a while, and have just started restoring it. i took off valve covers, carb, etc, and cleaned them, and have been trying to start her up. I crank her over, spraying fuel into the carb, but it blows flame out of the carb after about 4 cranks <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />. Im pretty sure it's the timing, but i dont know how to fix it. if you know what might the problem be please Help! and write back

thanks in advance,

Ricky

with a blow out, i would check valve lifters, if its been sitting, there a good chance you could have one or more lifters sticking

Are you sure you have the spark plug wires in the right order after removing them for the valve cover removal and cleaning?

Are u sure the ignition timing is correct? To check it; pull the cap off the distributor, note where the rotor is pointing and mark the direction that it is pointing with a yellow tire crayon. Then pull the #1 spark plug. Put the tip of your index finger in the #1 spark plug hole. Crank the engine by hand or with a 1/2 " breaker bar and socket. When the pressure forces your finger out of the whole the piston is at Top Dead Center (TDC), or the firing position. Look at the rotor; is it pointing in the same direction as before? If yes, check the wiring sequence against the firing order, which may all be etched on the intake manifold. Inspect the wiring on the cap to make sure the firing order is as indicated on the manifold or in your literature. If that is correct, then you may have a timing chain problem. If you suspect the distributor has been removed and may have been reinstalled incorrectly, remove the distributor, bring the #1 piston to TDC as previously described and reinstall the distributor so that the rotor points to the #1 spark plug wire when the cap is replaced. Try to start the car. If it pops and coughs you could remove the distributor and replace it with the rotor facing 180 degrees in the opposite direction. Sounds time consuming but it actually only takes a few minutes.

Also, if you think its the ignition timing, simply rotate the distributor while you crank the engine.