Will not start after engine rebuild

[midgetracer]

Originally Posted by Ray64

Was the ports for the intake taped and painted over Did you take it off.? Wander how I know this

I helped a friend when he started his new engine. It missed terribly. After trying the carb, timing etc. I pulled plug #1 and found an old rag in the valve. The rebuilder had put rags in the ports to keep dust out and the owner never pulled the rags out before installing the manifolds. I pulled partially burned rags that had made their way partially into the combustion chamber. After that the engine ran beautifully. Ray 64 made me think of this SNAFU.