"kept idling worse and worse and finally this year it wont start."
Ok for sure you need gas and spark. Remove the gas line to the carb and into a jar bump the starter a few times. Gas in the jar? Remove a plug smell like gas/wet with gas? Check the spark anyway you want at the plugs air gap or plug wire to ground. I've had semi new plugs cause a problem before. Sometimes new parts can be defective. Make sure the plug wires are good and wired right. If you got gas on the plugs I'm hoping your carb rebuild is good. Didn't block the little holes from thottle body to heat block did you? Just want to get this engine going then you can look for leaks and set the timing and check compression. I've seen these old engines start with low compression, all sorts of leaks and out of time even plug wires wrong (didn't run right but STARTED) as long as there was gas and a good spark! I would still like you to try another New set of NEW AC plugs. Let us know what you come up with. Adios, Kip
