Most likely you've put the wires to the distributor on in the wrong order.
Firing order is 1-4-3-2.
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Tom Young                       '81 Vanagon
Lafayette, CA 94549         '82 Westfalia
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----- Original Message -----
From: "David Maurio" <maurio11@COMCAST.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, July 26, 2003 2:07 PM
Subject: Help please?

Ok, I think I screwed up... Changed spark plugs, rotor, cap, wires and air
filter today... Engine wouldn't start.  Put all the old stuff back in,
thinking I'd go one at a time to see where the problem was, engine wouldn't
start with all the old stuff back in... It cranks, tries to turn over but
never does.  I gapped the plugs to .28, made sure all the wires and the cap
were nice and tight...  Is the firing order in the Bentley or owners manual?
I can't seem to find it...