So yea, as the title summarizes, we put an AU block with ED head and ignition gear into an ED, never pulled the chain or timing gear apart, and it ran when we started it.

Clearly it was not timed right as it wouldn't go over 3000rpm, then it started to run like crap and died.
Now we can't start it; it has spark, we've re-timed it repeatedly changing lead positions and taking the distributor in and out while putting the motor on TDC each time.

It has fuel, and we tried lpg to see if it would work, nothing at all

does anyone have any ideas, soon it will be taken to the auto-elec to be completely checked out, which is a pricey.
we've also checked fuses, looms, leads, plugs, cap, button, neutral safely switch (car is manual but auto originally)

What about your cam timing? As you have fitted your ed head are you 100% sure the cam timing is right.

well thats one of the first things i thought, but the car started, ran and drove with the cam timing the way it is, so i believe it should be good enough to get back to AT LEAST that stage?

also, apparently it started missing before it died, then got worse and worse until it stopped.
possibly the dizzy module??

Did it run like it was bending valves haha. Didn't check the timing, you crazy ?

the valves aren't bent, it still turns over and they still seal.
we never took the chain off or the cam gear out so it was still set to the timing that the previous owner had it at, which it ran fine with.

the cam timing between the E series and AU are the same (it wasn't a VCT motor)