Classic/Antique Car Repair: timing on a 235, spark plug wires, compression stroke

Question
i have a 53 chevy pickup with a 235 that has been rebuilt. i have added a dual carb setup. im having trouble getting it to run and even the time i was able to get it runing the motor was spiting and poping out of the carbs. i had fuel pressure problems but fixed that and now getting 5psi at the carbs. i just cant seem to get the timing even close initially

Answer
If the engine ran OK before the carburetor and intake manifold change, and no one has fiddled with the distributor or spark plug wires, it should still be timed close enough to run right.  Since it doesn't, I suspect a problem with the carburetors or intake manifold, and it is most likely a really bad vacuum leak, probably due to a bad intake manifold seal to either the head or the carburetor bases, but possibly there is a vacuum line disconnected.

If the distributor HAS been disturbed, turn the crank manually until the ball in the flywheel is lined up with the timing mark, and then look to see where the rotor is pointed inside the distributor. It should point either exactly to the right, or to the left (depending on whether #1 is on the compression stroke or not). If it is pointed to the left, turn the engine one full turn so the ball is lined up again, and the rotor will be pointing to the right side.  Now, with a test light or an ohmmeter, rotate the distributor body so that the points are just now starting to open as the engine moves past this point - that will be close enough that the engine will run pretty  well, if all that is wrong is timing.

If the rotor isn't pointing exactly at right angles (left or right of the centerline of the engine), the distributor isn't installed right, it will have to be removed and re-installed so that the rotor does  point to the right when #1 cylinder is at TDC on the compression stroke.

Dick