No life in the old girl after I've refitted the head

[jaybv6]

Car - 88 GTi 8v PB

I finally got round to starting up my Golf today except that it won't.  All leads and earths are in place.  Removed the coil lead to the dizzy and cranked it over a few times to build up some oil pressure.  I then reconnected the Coil lead to the Dizzy and fired up the car.  It cranks over but no joy in starting.  Removed a spark plug and cranked it over, there is a spark.

Have checked the timing and all is ok.  Removed the inlet fuel hose and cranked it over, pump primes and fuel comes out of the hose.  I drained the fuel from the tank as it was stale.  Replaced fuel with the finest unleaded.  Cranked it over, nothing.   I tried to bridge the relay (number 2) for the fuel pump but it primes but then stops (I thought bridging it out would make it run constantly).

As the car started before I removed the head I'm at a loss as to why it won't start.  The only 2 things that I've change from the original setup are the fuel injectors and the AFM (as it was attached to the Induction kit I bought).  I'll give my original AFM a try in the morning and I'm sure the injectors are ok as there is fuel on the spark plugs when I remove them.

Have you any ideas what else may be causing the car to start?  Any help or thoughts are appreciated.

[DarnPB]

It does sound electrical. One of the sensors has a dodgy connection or there is a wire off. You say you have replaced the injectors? Have you replaced them with the same part number?
Also check your cam timing again. That job is a bugger. Either you get it first time and its the simplest thing in the world, or you end up farting about for hours with no results.
But go round all the connections first, starting with the water sensors.
One other thing. On the end of the injector rail is a screw plug. This is where you plug in a fuel pressure guage to check your injector pressure. Remove it and make sure that when you crank the engine, fuel comes out of it. This will get rid of any air locks. Then refit it and have another go.
I am not that au fait with these engines yet, but these are the things I would check first if I had your problems. Hope this helps. Good luck.

[vaughn]

i know this may sound silly but have you checked the plugs

[jaybv6]

Plugs are new 

Cam timing is spot on.  I'll check all the electrical connections again and see if anything is loose etc.

Water temp sensor is also new. 

Injector have been checked and they are the right part number, they've also been confirmed as working hence I know that it may not be the injectors.  Would a faulty MAF cause this issue?

Thanks for your help

[Thom89]

Have you done a compression test? may need a tow start to fill cam followers with oil
Tom

[DarnPB]

It could be the MAF, but if it was working before, it should work now. Try borrowing another from a mate.
Thom 89's suggestion could also be a possibility, although if the tappets were collapsed, you should still get a fire. Same as for if the tappets were overfull of oil. Well worth a tow round the block though, in gear.

[jaybv6]

Cheers
The Tappets are new.  I made sure to fill them with oil when fitting them but most of that has probably run out.  Have tried a different MAF that's known to work and still the same.  I'll try the tow thing with the old girl in gear.

[rowlers]

I had to tow my valver to get it going after new head rings and shells, after a couple of tows to get it going it then started to fire on the starter!

give it a go

[jaybv6]

Is that normal then after fitting major engine components?  I mean to build the pressure up?  I removed the coil and cranked the engine for 10 seconds or so to do this but was unaware that it may need something more.  It would defintely explain why it's having problems starting. 

I'm going to do a compression test sometime this week.

[rubjonny]

Have you checked the dizzy timing, the dizzy will spin freely once the belt is off

Edit: pressue should build up very quickly, I replaced the entire engine on my digifant and it didn't take long on the starter for it to fire.  Also, does the pump prime when you turn the key 1 click?