New Head..timing belt..won't start

Was looking for a good, cheap truck. Bought this little mazda for no more than i could scrap it. The guy said they put a new head, new timing belt. That it ran but ran rough...then it quit running. I am somewhat mechanically inclined. I bought a haynes manual for the truck. Everything seems so general that nothing in this manual really matches the truck. You guys have helped me so far with the process of elimination. I need to clarify a few more things with some one that has experience with these trucks. Distributor is turning..got engine at TDC the cam pulley is lined up with the arrow pointing up at #1. There is a little circle at about the 1 o'clock point should my cam be timed at the #1 or on the circle?? Also, it is impossible for the dimple and the line to be lined up on my distributor and be at #1!?....It sits at about 11 o'clock (halfway between #1 and #3) Is my distributor messed up?With the dimple and the line lined up is the only way it will fire...it backfires like crazy of course. Also tried to disregard the marks and just put it at #1 plug wire...it does not fire. There was reference on this site to the rotor button having 3 settings, it does but will only go on one way. I also checked to see if the 3 points on the button would put it at #1...they would not. BTW the flat spot of the dist. shaft is where my rotor points to. Sorry for the lengthy post...just trying to relay the processes i have been through. It is getting fuel and spark.

Wow forgot to include make and model, but screen name says it all '88 B2200

There's valve timing (timing belt, camshaft timing) and there's ignition timing.

With the engine set at TDC for #1, the distributor rotor should point at about the 9 o'clock position, as you look at the distributor.

make sure crank pulley is on timing mark then look at cam gear! Three settings on there ,! From memory I think it should be on "A" make sure #1 cylinder is top dead center! Rotor button should be pointing at #1 wire on cap! Hope this works! When doing this easier to pull plugs! Once you have everything where you think it should be spin motor by hand with ratchet ! This will help make sure valves aren't hitting piston!

No, there is no A, B, C like the manual states. There is a #1 with an arrow, a #2 with an arrow, #3 with an arrow, #4 with an arrow...and a spot on the sprocket with a little circle...and as for cusser the button does not point at #1....I tried it pointed at #1 with no luck. Thanks for the help guys..not sure where to turn at this point

take the timing belt back off and line up the cam #1 with the little arrow (not the circle) make sure # 1 piston closest to the dist. is all the way up not down. ur probly backfiring because ur way off time. most likely the dist isnt lined up with the rest of the cam/head. the adjuster bolt is the only one holding the distributor in. if the rotar button isnt facing number 1 the take the entire distributor out and turn the rotar by hand to 9 oclock. when you slide it back in it will turn a little so compensate. (keep in mind cam is still at #1 mark) just incase the firing order is 1342 starting at the piston closest to the dist. good luck

shouldnt even have to pull timing belt off. just make sure sure that ur cam and crank are lined up, pull out the distributor and turn the rotar itself to right around 9 o clock with out turnin cap n slide it back in.

The dowel pin on the camshaft should be on the top. thats the arrow you need to go by. pull the distributor out and turn it some to get the rotor lined up with #1.

Thanks so much for the help guys...now I know where else to look. Looks like all of the clock work is in time....time to do a compression test next to see if the head job is any good. Still acts like it is pretty far out of time when I try to crank it....it strains really hard and then fires, strains hard again on rotation and then fires, but will not stay running. Last week when it would idle...i pulled the #4 wire off to check for spark....It did not changed the way it ran....even though all of my marks are lined up...it just feels like timing

Can someone chime in on this as I'm a little confused on this myself. On the crank do I line up the crank gear to the little notch on the oil pump or do I line up the crank pulley to the timing belt cover to put it in time, I ask because I found pics on the Internet that claims both ways so I don't know what to do. Thanks.