Car ovewrheated. a little water in cylinders. if i can get the engine to start then i can repair it with liqued glass. firing seems slow, retarded, not very peppy

Which engine?

What's the history?... unknown, was running just before tune up and now it doesn't, first start in 15 years,, other?

Backfire would imply timing and or stuck valve(s). The different Ford V8s have different firing orders. Be sure you have identified the specific engine and are referring to the correct diagram.

You can try retarding or advancing the timing a few degrees by turning the distributor.

You may not have properly located cylinder 1 on the distributor cap. You need to find compression stroke of cylinder 1 and bar over engine to TDC. Then remove distributor cap. The distributor rotor will point directly at distributor cap cylinder 1 plug wire tower.

If it's an old engine or has sat for years you will need to do a compression test of all cylinders.

Comment for further assistance.

Paperclip method? on a Ford? You just count the flashes on the light with the key ON. Anyway, I think I would look at the exhaust.

very old post (8v or 16valve engine/??)
cranks, but will not start
easy
http://www.fixkick.com/nostart.html

no engine runs with one cylinder firing, or 3 misfiring.
want to guess, or test?
want to buy tools
what to learn to use them (motivated?)
if not, get car serviced.

questions
which engine,?
how many miles one engine(odometer)?
ever got tuneup in last decade or every 60,000 miles?
repeats.
with cam belt?

if tuned up? was....
check spark timing now....
if way off (retarded?) that means the cam belt slipped
a 5 minute check and bam, omg this engine has the 60k rubber band.... hark.

Hey 94 TOY...

When did the problem start? Before you changed the wires and plugs? Or did it start, AFTER you changed the wires and plugs? Did the problem remain the same BEFORE & AFTER you made the changes?

1 - If the TOY ran fair to Okay before you did the work, then you may have done something wrong when you made the cahages. Check for correct plugs and firing order. Check for cross wiring. With engine runing pull one plug wire off each plug one at a time. Each pulled plug wire will slow down the engine. When you pull a plug wire that doesn't react and does not make any change ON or OFF that cylinder Plug.
Then that cylinder is not firing.

2 - Check for spark at that wire. If you do-not have Spark there, But the other wires do... the wire going to that cylinder is BAD.

3 - If you have the correct firing order and spark at all cylinders then the cylinder that did-not change the speed of engine has a compresstion problem. Bad valves, Piston or rings are bad... Major engine work and Major repair bill for the repair job.... GOOD LUCK....

Have you checked the timing? It might be too advanced. I would try to retard it just a little. I would also check for vacuum leaks in any of the hoses going to the carburetor or the distributor.

Sounds like the "cold start routine" is missing its cue. The cold start sequence raises idle, and enriches fuel ratios. For a limited time during warm-up. Some cars use 2 sensors for the water temp. This means that the sensor which operates the water gauge or idiot light is different from the Engine Management sensor. So except for the flooding problem you would not know if it was working.

Did you check to see if the 4th injector was dry after replacement?

Another idea for richness is that fuel pressure is too high or that there is an air leak on the intake. This could coincide with not drawing in fuel to number 4 cylinder. Also, a lean condition on number 4 would ramp up the fuel to the other 3 cylinders as some metering systems are based on exhaust AVERAGES.

A simple test on a running engine with a spray bottle of water will produce a change in RPM once water is drawn into the air leak. This will pinpoint the problem.

I hope my solutions is helpful.

does it look like water? if so could be your ac draining it comes out kinda behind the wheel on passenger side of the car even though you dont turn it on if its a little low in freon it will kick on and off when you have it set to off, thus you get the water running out on the road thing lol, not alor to worry with unless its another type of liqued, does the coolent lvl get low on the car? what color is the mestery liqued?

Im wonderin if some of that water got into the cylinder area and bent a rod ruining the compression--did u ride thru a flood zone--mite want to do a test--also scan vehicle and test injector pump off engine

most likely the feul pump. test the feul pressure with a gauge. look of ther little metal feul line on the intale manifold. tst pressure. have freind listen at the rear of the truck for the pump prime. key on only. then start the truck, friend should hear pump running. could also need a timming chain but pump is more tlikely

Be very careful about what you do. If you get a significant amount of water into the cylinders, you can destroy the engine by trying to crank it. Water will not compress, unlike air, and severe damage can be done.

Take it to a repair shop.