I'm so pissed, I could throw stuff. Almost did.
Everything went back together perfectly. Other than my labels, you can't even tell I was in there. No spare parts.
Runs. BUT, it runs like it's on 3 cylinders.
I've been over the plug wires F.I.V.E. times (see post
#9 ). I used the same plugs and wires that were in it before I tore it down. I've had the thing running with
#5 and
#6 wires off with no change. MAF disconnected makes no change.
The ONLY issue I had was with one of the push-rods. Back in post
#28 , about a lifter missing the cone. No answer, so I proceeded. When I was putting the push-rods in, that particular one (rear passenger) seemed really low. Almost like the lifter was collapsed. When I put the rockers on it was obvious that push-rod wasn't right. I messed with it until it sat at the correct height and spun smoothly in my fingers (told me I was REALLY in the lifter). Everything looked and went fine after that.
No valve-train noises besides a very slight tick that wasn't there before, but nothing to make a guy worry.
It runs better if I pull the hose off the brake booster which tells me too much fuel. Fuel pressure regulator is hooked up. Checked for fuel pressure at schrader valve with a screwdriver. Seemed like there was plenty of pressure.
I grabbed my timing light (I have REAL issues with pulling wires by hand while its running) and first just did a quick check that all 6 were firing. They are. Upon closer inspection, it looks as though the driver's bank is firing at twice the speed of the passenger. At an idle, you can actually see the individual pulses on the passenger wires. Driver's side makes my timing gun look like a flashlight.
It's not popping through the intake or exhaust and no backfires. I can bring the RPM's up to about 2K then drop the throttle and she settles (still with the crappy idle). When I goose the throttle, she responds quite well, considering. Not the cough-spit-sputter-increase I'd expect with how she idles. You CAN feel the rough-running even at the higher RPM.
After only like 5 minutes, the heater hoses were hot and I had a blast furnace of heat from the defroster. With radiator cap off the coolant drops pretty good whenever I goose the throttle.
At first startup, while still cold, no smoke from exhaust. Once warmed up, some blue smoke. Doesn't get heavy regardless of RPM, and it's really faint, but it's there. Didn't notice that before the head job.
Sorry if this seems like rambling, I'm just trying to get down as many observations as possible. I've already searched the forums and only two have come up. Neither had a final outcome.
I have NOT pulled the MAF to clean it. Voltage out was .850 at 1K idle. Voltage in was at 14.5
I do have the '93 I can rob parts from if need be, I'm just looking for a starting point. My gut still tells me to check the plug wires.....again.
Started working on her at 8 this morning. Started her up at 12. Here I am at 4.