I wanted to get everyone's opinion before I junked my 1998 Blazer. I replaced the head gaskets and manifold gaskets, and tried to start it. The starter spun the engine, but it did not sound like it was firing. Occasionally, there would be a small backfire. I figured I had clocked the distributor wrong, so I tried reinstalling it again. Same result, but a HUGE backfire. pulled the distributor again, and there was water in the oil. Could the huge backfire have blown a gasket? Thanks in advance.

 

prob not with new gasgets inless there was major head warpage or major cadivation in the area of water passages for the intake or head gasgets - stupid question - did you change the oil after changing gasgets and before trying to start it

 

I did change the oil and filter. Yesterday I pulled off the intake manifold again, and the gaskets looked good. I cleaned the mating surfaces again, put some new rtv and the same gaskets on, and replaced the manifold. Instead of torquing it down again, I just tightened it with a ratchet. I also had the distributor totally wrong. I fixed that, and it seems good now.