96 bronco 5.8 cranks but no fire

Check fuses under hood and stater relays located in the power distribution box.

try jumping your battery and see if it starts

how much is the RPM showing in the datatlogger while cranking?

check the compression in the cylinders.

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check your distributor pick up wires, make sure they are not crossing.

Your getting spark at the distributor but not the plugs. Are the wires good? and did you check all the plugs?

Recheck the firing order; 1-6-5-4-3-2

On the distributor passenger side radiator to fire wall. 2-4-6-coil
On the distributor drivers side radiator to fire wall. 3-1-5

Cylinder passenger side radiator to fire wall. 2-4-6
Cylinder drivers side radiator to fire wall. 1-3-5

Good luck and also check the distributor cap again for proper seating.

1.) put aside about $50 that you are ging to spend... period
2.) drain the oil and remove the old oil filter
3.) install a new oil filter, add new 30W oil
4.) remove all 8 spark plug wire from the 8 spark plugs
5.) remove the 8 spark plugs
6.) spray about 5 seconds of WD40 into each of 8 spark plug holes
7.) spray the remainder of the can into each of the 2 valve covers thru the EGR holes (pull out the EGR valve first)
8.) making certain that you have a full battery charge, turn the starter switch to START for about 5 seconds... if your engine turns then your internals are not frozen... that's good
9.) open another can of WD40 and spray equal amounts into ecah of 8 spark plug holes a second time
10.) turn the start switch on for another 5 seconds and listen for strange sounds... by the way without the spark plugs the engine will rotate more quickly than you normally expect... not a problem because as it turns it is lubricating your internal parts
11.) wait a minute and then turn it on for for about 10-20 seconds while listening for scraping or knocking sounds... if none heard then you are all lubed up and ready to reinstall the spark plugs.
Install new plugs or sandpaper the old with the correct gap ( I believe .035")
12.) if you didn't mark the plug wires not a problem... Google '78 Chevy Distributor Firing Order to find terminal #1 on the distributor cap... usually about the 1 o'clock position
13.) install #1 wire to #1 sparkplug... the driver's side front closest to the radiator
14.) the distributor rotates like a clock (clockwise) and the numbers on the clock starting at #1 is 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2.... this is the firing order in a clockwise direction
15.) take the next plug wire #8 and connect it to #8 spark plug
Note: the spark plug numbers are cast into the top of the intake manifold for easier identification
16.) conect the remaining wires to their respective plugs
17.) make certain that you have a full battery charge, some gas in the tank (gas evaporates over 3 years) and a full radiator.
18.) Turn the starter switch and listen for the engine to start
19.) If it doesn't start the first time, try again and wait for the gas to reach the carburetor.... try again
20.) if it still doesn't start spray some engine strating fluid into the carbuetor throat and try again... it should start
21.) if it starts but doesn't keep running then repeat step 20. unitl the gas reaches the carburetor and continues to run on its own...!

Sounds like you need a new starter.

pull number one spark plug and put your pinky in the hole, rotate the engine with the starter solenoid and when u feel pressure at max u are near or at number one cylinder top dead center, bring the timing mark to 10 deg BTDC and then pull distributor and point the rotor to number one plug wire terminal.