1984 Lincoln Towncar cranks but no start

Its a standard 5.0 btw, not the 5.0HO. Tried both wiring diagrams, no go

Here...finally..non HO

Thats the same firing order as the HO and the 351 windsor. Regualr 302windsors and the Ford old school big blocks use 1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8. I have hooked up the wires under both, neither start her up. Timing jump?

Geez, I found a diagram for standard.......HO......Truck......marine (turns backwards) all different 302's but I pretty sure that's it. Listed as 1983 TC click on it to get bigger /// 1.5.4.2.6.3.7.8

Discounting marine applications....they for whatever reason turn the opposite direction, the whole crankshaft that is, here is the other one I found

OK, well ive hooked up it 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8. She still wont start. Engine sputters like its ALMOST about to catch. The pic is the normal/recommended set up. Wont start with that either

Voltaire, I had to go out for a while. But I'm stumped man. I looked even more and found this page and this image..it's got to be one or the other. And you have done both. Did you move the distributor? I know you said didn't mess with timing..but maybe accidentally? Check which way the rotor actually is turning? http://www.ask.com/question/302-firing-order ..the image will get full screen...click on it

Thanks for the help anyway man, it does seem puzzling. I havent touched the distributor, the rotor spins counterclock.

The firing order should be on a sticker on the driver's side valve cover. Failing that, the Haynes service manual does have the correct order for that generation of 302 Windsor. I'm trying to remember the right one. I do remember that my 79 302 specified that 2 and 3 were adjacent on the cap, and same with 6 and 7. It WILL run with them reversed, but it sure won't run well, and it will eventually do damage. The other thing is always use the wire looms that come with the wire set. You need to keep the wires separated from one another, as they can jump and cause a misfire that will stop the car. Also, if your engine has a lot of miles on it, check for timing chain play. Lift the cap off, and put a socket and breaker bar on the crank shaft nut. Turn the engine and make sure the rotor in the distributor starts to turn immediately. If the engine turns more than 1/8 of a turn before the rotor moves, your timing chain is so stretched that I would suspect that is the problem. You can compensate for SOME of that by advancing the timing. Maybe enough to get the car to run. For finding the vacuum leak, start by making sure all the lines are intact and connected properly. Also make sure that all the vacuum switches are functioning properly. Once that is checked out, with the engine running, take a propane torch, unlit and turned low, and run it around the base of the carb and around the intake manifold. If the idle increases, you have found the location of a vacuum leak.

I have the manual, the firing order is 1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8. What puzzles me is the orientation of the cap clips. According to the manual, the clips indicate the position of the #1 spark plug wire (i.e. immediate left is 5), which is NOT the clearly marked "1" on the cap. That leads to some confusion. However i looked online (engine bay 1984 Grand Marquis, same distributor system) and got a friend to send me a pic of his 84 TC, both check out with the set up ive got on her now, which is starting at the cap defined #1 (as she is on the picture i posted). The vacuu,m leak im referring to is a vacuum line, it melted during an overheat and now i cant find one of the ends. She would run and start no problem, but the idle isnt the same.