Hello everyone I have a 1984 ford ranger it's the 2wd model and it had been sitting for quite some time and we decided it was time to bring her back to life it started fine for the first few times then began to run very poorly until now it will not start at all it just misfires we have checked the distributer,cleaned carb,new plugs,and have checked compression and spark we reall want this to run as it will be a daily driver for me any tips would be greatly appriaciated

 

Fuel filter ???
Old spark plug wires too.

 

Yes we changed oil and oil filter before trying to start it but the old wires looked fine I know they were replaced not long before truck was left sitting

 

Have you checked the timing yet?

 

It's set at 6 deg from where they serviced it last

 

But you've actually verified that it's firing at that time with a light?

 

I've run out of ideas and things to check with this truck and still don't know why it will not start

 

And yes it is firing I have tested that and it is getting fire to all 6 plugs in correct order and was running at 6 deg going by the timing light when it was running

 

Fuel filter, not oil filter.
Is there fuel in the float bowl and is it clean and fresh _ no rust sediment ?

Check the ohms on your wires, should be around 5000 ohms and plugs should be the same.

I'm assuming that when you checked for spark that you actually used one of the plugs.

Is the automatic choke engaging or disengaging _ flooded state ?

If it started right away, that tells us that your timing is right and that it is getting spark.

I'm thinking some old fuel has gotten into the carb.

You also have a metal fuel tank, so the pump probably sucked some rust.

EDIT:

Fuel pump could also be suspect depending on how long it sat and where.
The diaphragm can get old and cracked, check float bowl for fuel.

 

Fuel filter is new and wires are good the bowl is full of fresh gas and pump is working as it should the last owner replaced the mechanical one with a electric pump and I tested it and it is pumping a good amount of fuel up into the bowl. I'm starting to wonder if I have bad valves because there is a slight noise coming from the first cylinder it's almost a hissing noise when turning over possibly valves or cracked head?

 

Compression test will tell you if the valves are bad.
You also said you've checked the compression, what was it ?

Do Ron's 50/50 test.
Sounds like an ignition problem at this point.
Assuming that if the choke is working properly and getting the right amount of gas, not too much or to little.
You've cleaned the carb, so also assuming that the needle valve and float are healthy.

Test is to get some starting fluid in a spray can.
Remove the air cleaner and spray a bit into the carb while cranking.
If it wants to fire, then you have a fuel problem.
If not firing, then you have an ignition problem.

Odd match putting an electric fuel pump on a carbureted engine.
I'm going to assume (again) that it was running well at some point with the electric fuel pump.
Generally electric fuel pumps (motor armature) type were used to get pressure for fuel injected systems.
So an electric fuel pump may be pushing too much gas past the needle valve and flooding the engine.
There would be an obvious strong smell of gas of this was the case.
Are the spark plugs wet with fuel ?

Just looked at your personal info too, you have a 2.3 litre, so there will be a timing belt, not a chain.
How old is the belt, maybe it jumped.
The compression numbers will tell you if it did.
What are they ?

 

The compression was good from what people have told me It has around 140 in all and will not fully start even on ether

 

Ends up the timing gear had jumped two teeth in advance