cannot get this engine to run

I am going to try all this probably Sat. This engine was rebuilt by me about a year ago. I had no problems with the engine all last year driving it sometimes 200 miles round trips to car shows. In Oct. of last year, we took the car apart to do the restorations that we are doing now. So, there is nothing wrong with the internal workings of this engine as 67dart273 outlined above about cam timing and all that. This motor was pulled running fine and put on an engine stand for the last 5 months. The only thing we did was pull the dist. out to get it in the engine bay with the tranny on it. So either the dist. was put back in right or 180 out. I said it was running a little at one point so with that being said, the dist. has to be in correctly because you just said there is no way it will run at 180 out. The key switch problem I don't know about. The steering column was pulled, then put back in the same way it came out. could it have gone bad sitting, maybe. I am going to try each and everything mentioned to figure this out. I just think that with everything being pulled out of this car, it is probably a wiring problem. But I still have a problem with the backfiring. That tells me something is in the timing also. I am going to start from the timing and work forward. We have just been going so hard on this for the last week, I am tired. This car has just about been completely put back together from a shell in the last week. I have missed something. thanks for the help. I will let you know what the result is if what you all have said works. Bill