Weird. Some ideas:

Can you check the timing while someone cranks the starter? You should see something around TDC on #1.

What do the spark plugs look like? If you soaked them with raw gas, they may not be firing.

If it ran OK and then went south, that's usually something in the fuel system, either too much gas or not enough gas getting to the cylinders. Can you check fuel pressure?

__________________
Chuck Taylor
Falls Church VA
'66 200, '66 230SL, '96 SL500. Sold: '81 380SL, '86 300E, '72 250C, '95 C220, 3 '84 280SL's '90 420SEL, '72 280SE, '73 280C, '78 280SE, '70 280SL, '77 450SL, '85 380SL, '87 560SL, '85 380SL, '72 350SL, '96 S500 Coupe