97 1500 5.7 vortec no crank after head gasket reapair

proper valve adjustment?

I did the valve adjustment as it was my first time I used a how to video from YouTube. I used the video from head gasket change start to finish and followed exact instructions. Possibly out of time, I checked for compression at spark plug hole and had great compression

you should have not had to do anything with the timing chain replacing head gaskets. but it still has a distributor correct? then yes you may of put the distributor in wrong.

amd that I believe is where I'm having trouble I can't seem to get the distributor right, is there a certain trick to get the timing marks just right with out a timing light

You need to set the motor up at top dead center( TDC,) using your crankshaft harmonic balancer turning it to 0 on the timing marker. then with distributor pulled up with gear away from cam gear, turn the rotor to #1 spark plug wire.then lower the distributor. you may need to lift and lower until gears mesh and rotor stays at #1 its a feel thing.

I will try that tomorrow when I have the time to work on it more. I actually attempted to do that this morning while making sure rotor stayed on 1 but did not fire, realized I made an error by not connecting the distributor connector before trying to crank it. So now I'll attempt the same thing tomorrow morning and see what happens

sounds good.

I did the timing again but to no avail, it cranks and back fires now in the process? I’ve done the timing 15 different times and each time no start

And also engine doesn’t spin very fast when trying to crank

did you try putting a screw diver in #1 spark plug hole and turn motor by hand to see if screw diver comes all the way up the same time your timing mark says 0? you maybe 180 off.

I’m about to try that what do I do it’s 180 off

just make sure when #1 is on top that your mark says 0.