sure sounds like firing order on the spark plug wires.
Are aware of the slight notch on the edge of the distributor ,,,,,,,,,,,,,in
the top edge where the dist. cap sits...........that's for  # 1.......
and going backwards............counterclockwise.......it's 1,2.3,4 - easy to
check.

or the ignition timing could be way off - that fits the symptom too.
Distributor cap comes to mind also.......if it's really tired, or a
cheepie.- that's rare though, but a cracked dist cap can cause firing at the
wrong time & place.  Pretty rare though to see that.
are the push rods correctly seated in the lifters ?

Scott

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jonathan Chasteen" <chasteenjusn@YAHOO.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, November 14, 2008 7:00 PM
Subject: help. no start after head gaskets replaced

hello all i replaced the head gaskets on my 85 gl and now it will not start.
there is a lot of fuel dumping and the spark plugs got fouled. it also
backfires throught the intake when it tries to start. help me please i need
to get her back on the road

jonathan

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