Fuel pump not been removed and is as air free as I can see, plenty coming out of the overflows - is there any way I can further bleed it?

Done that...all OK I did try a squort of easy start and of course it tried to run but wouldn't keep going once that had been used.

Yep keep coming back to it cos that's the only way the book says...I am not a mechanic but I think I have got it timed right according to everything I read and the little bit I do know. I don't know why it won't start and we're to go from here. Thanks for the input.

Ok guys..... I have put everything together..... New heater plugs. New injectors. Fuel distributor pump set up as per the manual with special tool (this wasn't removed or messed with and was set as before). Ok guys..... I have put everything back together..... New head gasket. New heater...

Hi again, Yes I realise that it didn't read right!!! When I did it by the book and lined up the dots I did get fouling...don't know why. When I did it by ignoring the marks and settin everything from pistons halfway I did manage to get the tappets set.....then when I turned the engine the dots...

If I line up dots on crank and camshaft and put the belt on and the rockers there's all sorts of obstruction of valves and pistons...it is impossible to set clearances so this method is obviously not correct. The only way I can get the tappets anywhere near where they were before is using one...

Ok.....some progress ....I think!! I did as you suggested, put cylinder 1 at TDC (definitely know this is correct). Rotated camshaft clockwise until pushrods of cylinder 1 are at their lowest (verified with dti). One of the scored lines was pretty close to the arrow (possibly one tooth out)...

Hi thanks for the help.... No, when dot on crank is lined up the flywheel mark is nowhere to be seen...from my tests with head off the pistons are , maybe, half way down. Valves are also not at ep - the only TDC and EP is when the crank collet is in line with the arrow and this was confirmed...

Hi....nope, if I line up the dot on crank there's nothing on flywheel (when I had it all in bits I cleaned the flywheel but the only thing is the groove for the special tool...no writing or other marks). If I go to TDC (cylinder 1) the mark is perfectly in the window - the dot is somewhere near...

Hi....nope, if I line up the dot on crank there's nothing on flywheel (when I had it all in bits I cleaned the flywheel but the only thing is the groove for the special tool...no writing or other marks). If I go to TDC (cylinder 1) the mark is perfectly in the window - the dot is somewhere near...

You can see the 3 marks I have on the camshaft pulley (sorry for quality) 2 lines and dot towards the top.

Ok so I've put the Crank at tdc (verified) picture shows crank collet lined up with arrow. I moved the camshaft round several times to get the 2 valves of cylinder 1 at their lowest (approximate for now) - I get one of the 'extra' marks roughly lined up with the arrow - see pic. Should I put...

Ok, thanks will try that. There are 2 lines marked on the camshaft pulley but I've ignored those as all timing instructions refer to the punch mark dots. I don't know if the marks are made by previous owner(s) but surely the pulley is mounted to the camshaft on a fixed position? It cannot...

I just keep going backwards to square 1 when I started this post and so far I am not getting anywhere.....yes....the camshaft is in the wrong position when going by the book but I can only go by the book...I have arrows on the casing and punch marks on all three pulleys if I follow the book in...

The tool locks flywheel at just past TDC cylinder 1...if i then line up the camshaft pulley with the punch mark and put the belt on everything is great except when tappets set.

Yep...understand all that...my flywheel has nothing written on it but the special tool fits perfectly through the hole in flywheel housing as per the manual. So I am using that as EP according to the manual. I have checked that when the flywheel locked with the tool and the punch mark on...

Yep got the proper one

OK guys, This DODDLE is most certainly NOT......... This is my last attempt to find someone who knows what I am doing wrong and can point me in the right direction, if nobody can then I will be looking for a replacement engine.....but it should work,it did before and most of the parts are now...

Ok....I'm hoping it's a doddle as since starting this thread my confusion levels have hit the roof! If I line up the crank with the fot/arrow the cylinders are all about half way. I set the pump with the 'special tool and lined it up and hopefully I can line up the camshaft dot with the arrow...