After replacing the intake gaskets, water pump, radiator cap, thermostat, BOTH coolant sensors on each head after they melted off, got it started back up and it runs like crap. I think its a timing issue, had to replace all my plugs and wires, plugs got fried and 1 wire broke the end off, but afterwards we realigned my mark and it is running like a 3 legged dog. With ball and shackel. It will run, but very sluggish coughs and sputters, Any ideas?

 

Is the firing order wrong? Or maybe on cylinder not firing at all?

 

no amount of rotating the dizzy makes it run smooth?

 

Spark plug wires not in the right order, perhaps.

What exactly "melted" on these sensors before all of this work was started?

 

The distributor cap was not removed and all the wires were left on the cap, until I had to replace them but I do them 1 at a time. So I know its exactly as before. The sensors that were replaced were on the driver side head for the temp gauge, and the one on the passenger side head is for the coolant fan switch (it looks like a small knock sensor on the end). The sensors got so hot that the ends of BOTH melted right off. This thing got warm, I just dont know HOW the head gaskets lived....

 

Do a compression check. If it got hot enough to melt sensors that are in the coolant, it got hot enough to do significant internal damage.

 

Thats what I'm thinking. The head gaskets are still in place, gonna borrow a friend's compression gauge, no white smoke, not burning water, and the oil is fresh and looks good. I will post a pic of the sensors that were melted in a bit.

 

Well I found the miss I have been looking for. As we were timing the thing to 6* advanced, the timing light was flashing steady then would flicker, and after replacing the wires was sure it had to be the cap and rotor. Replaced them yesterday, the thing runs like it should, no more sputtering. Just gotta adjust the tv cable.

 

Glad you have it fixed