Bad words....

[Admiral Jedi]

Recently replaced the head gasket on a Cressida. It seems like it wants to start. I'm getting fuel definately and I'm pretty sure about spark. A buddy of mine said it sounds like the timing is off (crap). I did a compression test today on the first three cylinders because the latter three are hard to get to.

#1 120
#2 145
#3 130

Is that typical of the timing being off? The head was resurfaced when it was off, so I know that's not the issue.

Is this motor an interference motor?

Edit: Just found out it's not an interference motor.

 

[67rstbkt]

I would try setting base timing.
1: make sure your motor is on top dead center; if you take out the #1 spark plug you can see the piston. Make sure your harmonic balencer is lined up at zero when the #1 piston is all the way up. Also, your two camsahft sprocket marks should be pointing up.
2: Install your distributor with the rotor facing the #1 spark plug wire.
3: I usually have someone crank while I move the distributor back and forth until the car starts.
4: Set timing per TSRM :icon_razz

 

[AJ'S 88NA]

If you do all of the above it should start no problem even without somebody moving the distributor. Then you need to put a timing light on it and jumper E1 and Te1 in the diagnostic box.

Those compression numbers don't look good

 

[Admiral Jedi]

I don't think they look good either, lol.

Could it be because the valves weren't closing all the way due to the timing?

"3: I usually have someone crank while I move the distributor back and forth until the car starts."

Could you explain that to me?

 

[67rstbkt]

I don't think they look good either, lol.

Could it be because the valves weren't closing all the way due to the timing?

"3: I usually have someone crank while I move the distributor back and forth until the car starts."

Could you explain that to me?

Have someone try to start the car. You will need to loosen the distributor holding nut to be able to adjust the timing. Dropping the distributor in and trying to start the vehicle does not always work; timing may be too out of range for the car to start. Moving the distributor while cranking the engine over will help you find the timing range. After that's done, do what AJ said.

 

[AJ'S 88NA]

I don't see if you acually set the timing with all the gears lined up , TDC, etc, etc. If you don't have everything on the marks it will not run, no matter were the distributor is set.

If you didn't do all that when you put it back together, you need to check out the TSRM to see how to set it all or there has been several threads, and several members telling how to do it.