Classic/Antique Car Repair: 1960 Austin Healey, exhaust stroke, compression stroke

Question
I took over a job on and engine from a family friend. Anyway I had to do a tune-up, I lined up the timing mark and had it at TDC and installed the Distributor. lined up with #1. It cranks over about 3 times and back fires, but not even a hint that it wants to start. i was wondering what it the complete tune up steps.....thank you.

Answer
It sound like you have the distributor 180 degrees off. Remember that the distributor turns at one half the speed of the crankshaft and the timing mark will come up to TDC twice for every revolution of the distributor. Once on the end of the compression stroke and once on the end of the exhaust stroke. Take out the distributor and turn the rotor 180 degrees, half way around. It does not make any difference which way you turn it. I'll bet that it runs now.
Brad