my 1980 camaro hasnt been running for about a year and last week i fixed the issue (grounded starter wire) and it fired right up, i drove it around the block a couple times and it ran beautiful. i got new plates and insurance and went to go to work then wouldnt start
it turns over like a champ but just wont fire
any ideas?

 

Well, Three things make the car run.
Air, spark, and fuel.

I'd imagine you have air flow, unless the air filter is just shot to hell. If the air flow isn't restricted, I'd say that isn't the problem.

Pull off a spark plug wire and insert a cross tip screw driver into the plug about half an inch. HOLDING THE RUBBER/PLASTIC HANDLE have someone crank the motor to see if it arks to the screw driver. You may shock yourself (I did), it will sting, but you will live. lol If nothing happens, check to make sure your distributor cap is hitting the points. You could just need a new distributor cap.

When you turn the key to on, you should hear the fuel pump engage for a few seconds. If so, great! if not, BAD! Also, check your fuel filter; it could be clogged.
Pour some gasoline into the carb and see if you can't get it to catch.
Lastly, (this is about the extent of my knowledge) I left my 1980 Z28 out for about 6 months sitting. After that, it wouldn't start either. My carb needed rebuilt. (outside car b/c I don't have a garage)

Hopefully it helped! If not, like I said, I've reached the extent of my knowledge...

 

After sitting for a year,there is a good possibility that either the old gas has gone bad,or something has plugged up the fuel filter.On a side note,unless you have an aftermarket electric fuel pump,then you wont hear the fuel pump as these cars have a mechanical pump from the factory.

 

true on the fuel pump! Mine just went out on my 94 so I wasn't think about the difference... opps

 

Instead of sticking a screw driver into a spark plug wire, spend $5 and go to your local auto parts store and buy a ignition tester spark plug. And check each wire. Getting zapped isn't fun unless you're tired.
See if you're getting fuel first. It's possible that something may have been in the tank/filter/lines and is causing it to not start now. Try starting fluid in the carb and see if that gets it going.

After sitting for so long, there can be dozens and dozens of things causing it to not start now.

 

half a shot glass of gas in the carb will tell you if its a fuel issue. should start and die. pull a couple plugs and check for water, if you have a filter close to the carb and its a clear one have a look at that for any water or crud. if not clear pull it off and dump contents into a clear container, want to dump from the fuel pump side of the filter so you get stuff from the unfiltered side. if it appears plugged for a short term fix (to get home) i have blown into the carb side and reinstalled. anyways new fuel filter would be number one on the list of things to do. take distributor cap off and and check for corrosion or moisture, new cap and rotor may be in order. if there was little fuel in the tank then i would assume some condensation has formed and collected in the tank and would not be surprised if rust formed. anyways the water if the issue, would have taken some time to work its way up to the carb and collect in filters and floats to the level to began effecting the ability of the motor to run.

 

put some gas straight in the carb and still no go, fuel filter is pulling fuel to the carb.
pulled some spark plugs and they are a little fouled a and rusted plus one snapped in half

they had some residue on them around the threads could that just be from the gas that was being pumped in there without it starting?