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car wont start

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Ford Mustang 89 LX notchback 4cyl 2.3L

My car was running very rough and very shaky at idle. I took the spark plugs out and it was covered with black carbon. I cleaned them off and put them in the next day(today) i put them back in and now the car wont start at all.

I
checked all the connections many times.
Checked to see if the spark plugs were sparking.
Pressed the emergency stop reset button in the trunk.
Checked the fuel pump.
Tried starter fluid down the air intake and still wouldn't start.
Bought all new spark plugs and put them in with the same results.
Checked the distributor and the rotor
Not all in that order.
I tried to check the timing but it wasn't turning fast enough for me to tell.

I'm still at the same position I was when i woke up this morning, except I know a few things that it's not. Any idea's on what it could be? What should I do/check next?

Edit: Also I forgot to add before, if i take the spark plugs out after trying to start it they are wet and smell like gas. I don't understand if there's fuel getting in, and the plugs are sparking why it wont start. posted by  Xycron

If you are getting spark and fuel, I would at least check base timing. Make sure you have the firing order correct. posted by  thefonz

Try turning the timing(with the wires)180*. The first time I changed my cap and rotor I pulled the wires out thinking my Haynes manual had the firing order. Unfortunatly the firing order the book gave me was not correct. So I guess and tested until I found an order that made it run. However it ran very rough and when i pulled a plug it was black with carbon and wet with gas. I ended up switching the wires around 180* and it ran 100times better. When the wires were wrong it still ran good enough for me to drive it down the road but going up hills and getting any power out of it was out of the question. posted by  DBain

Also are you by chance using Bosch platinums??? My integra WOULD NOT run with those plugs well at all. After a month of driving with them the engine misfired on every cyl. I threw $150 of parts at it before changing back to NGK Iridiums and fixing the problem. posted by  DBain

Engine overhaul indeed...I think it is a problem that needs to be taken to a professional. IMO posted by  JPolito830

have a compression check done first. posted by  tbaxleyjr

Thats a hefty ass conclusion. posted by  99integra