how can I tell if 1.5L spark is weak?

I did a head gasket on a 1994 Civic 1.5L
now it won't start.
it cranks, battery has good charge.
TDC was set correctly.
inline spark tester has a slow, dim orange glow at night when I test each
cylinder.
New spark plugs are wet, gas odor, black soot on them.
Any suggestions on what to check next?

 

Ah, we've got another sneaky stealth cross-poster. Bad netiquette, young
fella. This same message was posted individually to at least two groups.

Floor the gas pedal and leave it there. Crank until it starts.

That procedure shuts off the injectors to clear a flooded condition, which
it appears you've got.

 

I already had tried that - how long should I let it crank? The 1994 car has
176k
miles on it.

I've already had to charge the battery once - the car was sitting for a few
weeks before I had time to put the head back on the motor. It started and
ran fine before I pulled the head off.

The head I put on was from a 1995 with 80k miles on it. The shop said it
passed the tank and pressure test and they planed the bottom.

 

Learn to cross-post properly. Go check your other message in
rec.autos.makers.honda.

 

I'd check the coil. It could be that it is arcing through the insulation,
causing a weak spark. Inspect it for discoloration, cracks or roughness on
the insulation.
Remco

 

----------------------

Have you double-checked the cam timing? It's definately flooded too. It
must have ran a BIT, since there's soot on new plugs.

'Curly'

 

I replaced the distributor, cap, rotor and wires - the car ran for 5 seconds
and died. I re-checked TDC & the cam position and found it was one tooth
off. Once I made that adj, it started instantly. Now the alternator is
seized, but that is easy to replace.
thansk for everyones ideas.

 

It may be time for a NEW timing belt,especially if it had not been changed
before.

It could save you a lot of money.