Scirocco Register

I have just done a full engine out head gasket and clutch replacement on my GTX and now it wont start. I have checked the timing and it is fine, got spark but no fuel. I have pressure to the metering head before and after the filter and on the return line so I took the braided line from the metering head off the injector on no 1 cylinder and put it in a bottle to test while cranking the engine and no fuel.
It was working when I took it out the car and haven't touched the metering head so don't know what is going on and really need the car.
I have spent so long fannying around with the whole thing I have had enough now and I'm sure it will be something simple.
also all fuses are good and so is the pump relay (also tried jumping fuel relay)
If anyone has any ideas please share them.

As you are getting pressure at the metering head, have you tried lifting the air flap to see if you get fuel from an injector while the engine is cranked over? I'm not sure from your description if you did that while checking for fuel on an injector line.

have tried lifting the flap to check it wasn't sticking but not when cranking so gonna go give it a try. thanks.

just checked with a bit of wire to push the flap up and fuel runs out so I guess its not the fuelling so I'm back to square one with why this thing isn't starting.
Gonna give up for tonight and try again tomorrow.

I guess the next question would be is fuel getting into the cylinders, if you pull a spark plug out straight after cranking is it wet? If it is then how good is the spark, is it a strong blue colour or a weak yellow one?

You say the engine is timed up right, what marks did you use on the cam shaft and intermediate shaft? Do they still line up in the right places with the no 1 piston in TDC? Does the rotor arm line up with the notch for no 1 cylinder when everything else is lined up?

Speaking from experience I've managed to time up an old 8v using the wrong marks and being somewhere between 90 and 180 degrees out and wondered why it didn't run, a friend who came round to have a look spotted it within 30 seconds and didn't let me forget it for a long time! Thank god the 8v is valve safe.

Set the timing with the line on the pulley from the crank in line with the dot on the intermediate shaft gear and the line on the head side of the cam gear levle with the top of the head and lined up the grove in the dizzy. Plug was dry when I checked but will look again in the morning.

Right, Plugs are getting wet but spark is week sometimes on cranking it will fire up if it has been left for a while but wont continue to run and will sometimes do the same when u stop cranking. have tried testing spark with different plugs/ ht leads and also direct from coil so think it may be the coil but cant try another as the spares are in my lockup the other side of town, gonna try making a new earth to the engine from the coil mount and see if this improves the spark

hi
just had a similar problem with my '86 gtx.
don't know if you've already tried this but sometimes the actuator in the
bottom of the metering head sticks,mine was due to rust coming through
the injection system.sometimes fuel would get through,usually for 1 engine
revolution,and then nothing,so the plugs were wet.
stupidly i ended up changing most of the fuel and ignition system before
problem was found...doh!
hope you manage to sort it,not much fun really,

regards rob

Did a replacement coil sort this out of interest?

Still not sorted have been using the other half's car as I have had enough of it and needed to take a break so not touched it. gonna take the coil over tomorrow and got a mate who is air cooled mechanic coming to have a look. Hopefully will be running soon as the 800cc Matiz is a bit depressing.

all running again turned out to be a combination of inlet vacuum leak, cam timing one tooth out dizy out of whack and Idle screw needing adjusting. Thanks for everyone's help. I am back to enjoying driving again. and the misses is happy to have her car back lol