Volvo won't start

First thing that comes to mind is the gas. If thats the same gas thats been in the car all those years its probably pretty much tarnish by now. I'd start by draining/siphoning the old gas, pour in a few gallons of fresh stuff, change the filter and try again. You may also have to clean the injectors so I'd pour in a can of cleaner with those few gallons of gas and go from there.

Dave

Ignition?

I put in new gas, gas cleanerand it seems good at the engine. I've even tried using starter fluid but it just cranks but won't really fire. When it does start it acts like a vehicle that's running on half its cylinders and blows some nasty white smoke but dies when I pump the gas. I checked all my plug wires and am getting spark, changed out the plugs and coil but it just doesn't want to run on its own. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Les

Fuel filter might be clogged, that's also within the range of years with the biodegradeable wiring so if the engine wiring harness is original it will need to be repaired or replaced. It's actually not too hard to repair once you get it untangled from the engine but that part really isn't much fun in the middle of winter as I found out.

Are you sure the firing order is correct? From left to right looking at the distributor from the front of the car, the wires connect straight across in the order 4-3-1-2, lots of people mess that up not realizing the way the pancake dist cap is wired internally.