Engine refuses to fire

[mickl]

Hello All
I left then 2 litre Berlina in the shed unattended since about Easter 2010 and I have just tried to start her up with no luck at all. It was previously running but needed about 6-8 pumps with accel to get started.
I have a brand new battery and the plugs are good. i drained the fuel tank, filter bowl and carbs and put new 95 octane in the tank. I don`t know if the chokes are working or not.
I checked the firing order and it appears correct. The points gap is set correctly at .4mm. I have not checked the timing as the crankshaft pully seems inaccessible to a spanner without removing the radiator first and getting tdc on number 1 .......is there a better way? I am also finding it very difficult to find the marks on the crankshaft pully.
I am no mechanic and could do with some advice on this please. Once i can get it mobile then it will be going to a good mechanic to get it tuned up correctly, but hiring a car trailer seems the only option at the moment.
Regards to all........Mickl

[Gary Pearce]

Have you got spark and have you got fuel up at the carbies.
Pull a plug lead off a plug, slip back the plug lead cover so you can see a spark against metal while someone else spins the engine over.
Up in front of the forward carburetor, coming up from the fuel filter and fuel pump, is the fuel line. Loosen the hose clamp, pull the hose off and while your helper is spinning over the engine see if some fuel is pumping out.
Get back to us after that.

[mickl]

Thanks for the tips gents.
The plugs were not new but cleaned them and set the correct gaps and tested that there was a spark.
Then checked the fuel by removing the pipe at the forward carb........there appeared to be an air lock as it took about 2 secs for the fuel to pump through. I re-attached the fuel line and after a few cranks away she went! 
I couldn`t find the timing marks at first as the car is auto and I couldn`t put it into 5th and roll it to move the pulley around. There is no room at all to get a spanner on the pulley as the radiator is so close, however i decided to remove the sump guard which allowed easier access to the pully and in cleaning it up from underneath it was easy to find the marks and paint them. I then used a timing light but both the F and M marks couldn`t be seen anywhere near the  pointer. Would you recommend loosening the distributor and moving it a little then rechecking with the light or maybe leave it as it is until I take it along for a mechanic to tune up? At least i can drive it about now.
I also noticed a small amount of water had dripped onto the pully so there might be a seal leaking somewhere directly above it...any ideas on that problem?
Regards and thanks \Mickl