I changed out my old gaskets for new ones and the car wont seem to run. It'll start and shake at about 400 RPM If i give it gas it shakes more and more then backfires. Timing is set to 8* degrees. (I was able to keep it running enough to check it. I'm getting .395 O2 readings when cold. I have checked evertyhing. I dont know what to double check. It also seems that the 7 and 2 header tubes are not that hot. any suggs? I sprayed evertyhing with carb cleaner and no change.

89 350 TPI
TF Heads with 1205 gasket...

 

just checked plugs they are BLACK. I am guessing running rich. There is no smoke when the car is running.

 

Is yer distributor 180* out?

Kat

 

nope. when i pulled it apart the rotor was facing straight ahead and it went it straight ahead. PLus I wouldnt be able to start it being 180 off.

 

i'd double check and make sure you didn't get a wire or two off when you put them back on and i'd look for a vacuum hose off. the o2 is pretty meaningless unless it's heated up and not just started. tps set correctly, check the voltage.

 

TPS is set at .54 triple checked the wires every vac line is connected that i can think of. I also tighted up the grounds on the back of the driver side head also. (think i could have messed something up there?

 

Recheck things. You had to screw something up if it ran fine before. Try removing the plugs and cleaning and regapping them. Make sure the spark plug wires are good with equal resistances.

 

My guess would be as was suggested: spark plug wires out of order or the distributor is off (maybe by a tooth or 180*). Done that myself many times.

 

My brother has a F@#$ Rustang and his dumb **** once set up his distributor 180* out with a 302 firing order and it started and ran. Just was missing like a mother. Turned it around and set it up with the 351 firing order and ran great. Still confuses me why Ford would have two similar engines with completely different firing orders with a very easily interchangable part that would COMPLETELY foul that situation up.

 

Vacuum leak?

 

Sometimes it is easy to think the distributor turns clockwise when it actually turns counter-clockwise and so on. Yes, the infuriating part is that often the motor will run -- but badly -- but still enough to make you think something else is wrong.

My Dad rebuilt a turbo motor once and labled all the wires carefully. He put the distributor back in and tried to fire it up and it ran really poorly. Thinking he had the wiring all straight, it took him a long time to discover that the spark plug leads were out of order. My younger Sister had been in the garage and out of curiosity pulled the wires out but put them back in the wrong order. :nono:

 

just got in wires are in order and the distributor is correct.

 

What kinda cam are you running?

 

ok i just read it again if you think 7 and 2 aren't hot as the rest get a temp gun (100 dollars for a cheap one) and check. if you don't want to spend the money or can't borrow one use a crayon and note how quick or slow it melts on each tube. if in fact 7 and 2 are colder than the rest you've got wires crossed, i know you said they're correct, of dead wires, plugs, etc. or your timing is off. timing seems logical since you're getting back fires. you never had the rockers off to change the gaskets right?

 

i took them all off to put new teflon on the screw in studs and tighted them abck to teh set screw but i loosened a few on the pass side and wham started right up and ran good. gots me

 

still a little problem. The number 1 header is just warm and not hot. melts the candle very slow as the others take it down

 

i found the problem. I remember accidently dropping a plug when i put it back in. I pulled it out and the plug was gapless oped it up slapped it in and away we went.

 

Glad to hear you got it running!