Chevrolet Repair: engine trouble, 454 chevy motor, edelbrock carb

Question
Van, I hope you can help as i am pulling my hair out. I put together a 454 Chevy motor with all new components. The block is done 30 over. New pistons, rings, crank, rods, cam, lifters, brand new aluminum rectangular port heads, brand new manifold, brand new 750 Edelbrock carb, new HEI distributor, new gear reduction starter, new flex plate, new everything. The damn thing doesn't start. It is at top dead center, I wired in the correct firing order and all it does is spit a little smoke or fuel out of the carb. I even tried all eight ports on the distributor thinking I might be 180 degrees off or something. The same thing. Van, what did I do wrong or what am I missing. I have verified that I am getting fuel and I checked each plug wire and I have good spark. Please help !   Thanks,  Roy

Answer
Hi Roy,
You may need to remove the valve cover and make sure first that the lifters are full of oil and actually opening the valves.
Then make sure both valves on #1 are closed when the rotor is pointing toward that tower, and the crank is at TDC. The best way to be sure the cam is timed right is to watch #6 rockers as you are coming up on TDC for #1. #6 exhaust should lust finish closing, and #6 intake should just barely begin to open...they will just be switching...when #1 cyl is at TDC compression stroke.
Rotor should be pointing to #1 tower, and make sure the wires are according to the correct rotation.
Good luck,
Van