Agreed, same here. You have spark, so that's not the problem. You've quadruple checked the timing; that's not it. And you're getting gas. I still there is a mechanical problem. A cold compression test won't take that long. You'll get a chance to see what the plugs look like, too. The 250 is durable, but not immortal. An engine with internal damage "can" sometime rotate fine and not give any external indications of failure.
Redo 1. put piston on TDC 2. Pointer should align with crankshaft tdc. (You may have to nudge crankshaft for perfect alignment.) 3. Rotor gotta align at #1 on cap. 4. Recheck your wire (cap to plug)
Then it probably is. Rotate to TDC, mark dist position. Pull dist and rotate engine one turn back to TDC, reinstall dist...
If it backfires through the carb the plug is firing while the intake valve is open instead of after it closes and the cylinder builds compression. Way too much ignition timing advance.
ok so I did this and got the engine to actually start but I have to advance the distributor as far as it will go and when it does run it smokes like a freight train and smells extremely burnt. distributor is pointing to the #1 spark plug (I’m guessing I’m a tooth off maybe?)
Rotate the motor till #1 cylinder is moving up on the compression stroke, Rotate the crank by hand (with a socket and ratchet) until the timing pointer is around 15 deg BTDC on the harmonic balancer, Rotate the distributer body until the rotor aligns with the #1 spark plug mark. If it wont align up pull the distributor and rotate a tooth. This should get you close enough for it to start. The smoking is probably from all the cranking with out starting. it should clear out quickly.
The original cause for the stall/no start may still be lurking. If your plug wires are old, you might replace them, or at least make sure they are not touching each other or something metal. If your battery ground cable is getting cruddy inside, I have seen them do stupid stuff. I sincerely hope you get it sorted out though.
