1979 Corvette sbc timing and not starting?

[Patricia O]

I like to work on older cars and normally everything works. I have a 1979 Corvette with 350 engine and took down to replace lifters,push rods and roller rocker arms, I pulled intake off and slowly put back, checked timing tdc is on compression stroke,I put my thumb over #1 until popped off then looked at distributor and points to #1 and both rocker arms are closed and before tdc I watched rockers and both moved up and down, I triple checked wires all correct now will not start and pulled #1 plug out looked powdery black what does this mean is the coil bad maybe or what could I be doing wrong.

 

[Mr. T]

Distributor rotor turns clockwise.
Firing order 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2
You have the plug from the pickup coil plugged into the Distributor Cap?
Ignition ON - check the is power to the BAT lead which plugs into the Distributor Cap.

If OK, then pour a couple of tablespoons of gas down the carb & try. May just need priming.

If OK, then you may have the rocker arms too tight. Normally if there are a couple of threads visible, then it will start until they are correctly adjusted.

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