Need Help. Wont start

[PKRWUD]

Originally Posted by Phillyfanfrombirth

If the cylinder is not full of gas, which will make it incredibly difficult to crank... the backfire could be explained by having the ignition too far advanced or having the distributor one tooth off... or dare I say, a bent intake valve.

Any of those would definitely explain a backfire in the intake, but none of them would have blown the valve covers off. If he blew the valve covers off, something else is going on here, and it's critical that it be figured out. I just can't think of what else could possibly do it.