S4 N/A rebuild..low compression and no start

[JustJeff]

I'm trying to help a friend out with a S4 in his shop. The history on it is that he had a part-time guy rebuilding the engine for a customer. After rebuild it wouldn't turn over. His part time guy up and disappears on him before the engine issues are resolved. He doesn't know much of anything about rotaries but he pulled the engine and re-rebuilt it thinking his guy missed something. And the car has sat for a year now with no start. He has used Atkins full rebuild kit. I believe he then purchased another full kit for the second rebuild rather than simply replace the rubber seals.

I was out there trying to help him this week, but I have zero experience with N/A engines or even S4. I compression tested the front rotor and got even bumps of 60psi.

Some factors. He has the airpump off the engine, the P/S off the engine, alternator off the engine. He has replaced the fuel pump and coils. He says he has gone through his service software for vacuum diagrams and he think he has vacuum correct. I've made sure that the AFM is plugged in and battery is fully charged and that he is WOT cranking the engine.

I've gotten advice to use some starter fluid and put some oil in through spark plug holes to try to get it to turn over. But is that really going to help if he has 60 psi? Am I missing something simple? He is ready to pull the engine and allow me to re-re-rebuild the engine.

I'll download the S4 service manuals and start doing some research...but any advice would be appreciated.