Right I worked on this a bit more today and got a bit farther but it still won't fire :( I managed to eventually get the spark plugs out, they where in really tight...

I then put a new battery on (640 amps) and fitted a new plug onto an ht lead and tried to fire it to see if I got a spark. I didn't :( So I tried connecting various other bits of the loom and eventually found that for some reason the fan switch has to be connected to get a spark?

So with the spark plugs removed, I put a bit of oil down each plug hole (maybe a couple of tablespoons worth in each plug). I then turned it on to help work the oil into the pistons and it spins round nice and fast.

Next I put all the new plugs in properly and connected the HT leads. I then tried to start it again and now it doesn't even spin at all. You can hear the starter motor struggling trying to spin the flywheel but nothing.

Any ideas what to do next??

Sounds like its hydrauliced.
Take the plugs back out and give it a spin for a few seconds.

Bob

too much oil.

You may need to soak it up.

TT

How can I soak up the excess oil?

I tried taking the plugs back out and it still wouldn't turn again. I checked the battery and it'd gone dead! Does trying to start the engine like this drain the battery really quickly as I didn't think a brand new battery would die so quickly after 10 or so attempts to start?

take all plugs out, put rag over (not in) plug holes and spin over the engine will get enough oil out
then check too see if your engine will turn over by hand with a wrench
befor you put the plugs in
seems a bit odd to me if your battery keeps going flat ther is no smoke leeking out of your loom anywhere is there?:D like you have some form of short in it
a big spark would be a give away when you conect it up to the battery
or it may only be shorted with the ign on possibly

I've not noticed any smoke coming out anywhere, that would be quite bad..

I tried turning it by hand using the pulley bolt but can't seem to turn it clockwise at all? Like its stuck?

with the plugs out?

Your starter is probably jammed. Smack it with an engineers fettle.

TT

Are all the plugs still intact?

Also, if you can, check the cam timing again.

TT

Yup plugs are out.

When you say engineers fettle, do you mean hammer?

The old plugs didn't look too bad at the ends, the neighbor seemed to think they where still in a usable state. They where a bit rusted on the sides though which is why they where really hard to get out I guess. Either way I bought brand new bosh ones and have binned the old ones.

I guess once I get the starter motor unstuck I can check how well it lines up at tdc.