I own a 1987 trans am with a 305TPI
Now when i got the car i was told it needed time, so today i did that, as well as changing the oil and 5 of the 8 spark plugs do to there being custom headers ( that i dont think are even meant for the car but just barely fit ) I crank it and i get it to pop like its about to start a few times and a few times ive gotten a loud exhaust popping, any one have any thoughts?

 

You didn't describe exactly how you changed the timing. Did you follow the specific procedure for your car by disconnecting the EST first?

Triple check your firing order and that you did not crack the insulators on any of your sparkplugs.

 

Please explain how to time it. I removed the distributor cap and turned it to 6 degrees BTDC ( till the rotor faced #1. Jusdt checked again. Firing order is correct. Im sitting in my garage a little disgruntled at the moment )

 

Back to basics, get the number 1 piston into position (you should be able to remove the plug and touch the top of the piston with a piece of hose or something and know when its all the way at top dead center (TDC) and then see where the rotor in the distributor is pointing. It should be pointing to the #1 position on the rotor cap. If it is pointing 180 degrees away from the #1, then rotate the crank again and double check. Another way is to pull the valve cover and see if the exh or int valve is open or closed. Do you have a Chilton's manual for your car? It wil walk you through it.

 

Oh. I didn't catch the part where the distributor had been removed from the engine.
There is TWO TDC positions for the camshaft. One is the end of the exhaust stroke. If your rotor is pointing to number one plug, but you're on the exhaust TDC then you will either not start, or it will be so rough with popping that it can't stay running.
Both TDCs will show the damper position as 0 degrees lined up with the timing pointer.

An easy test for this is to put your plugs 180* degrees out at the cap. The number 1 wire will go to the #6 terminal on the cap, and so on.

To resolve the problem you put the damper to the TDC position where the rotor is pointed to the #6 terminal, then lift the distributor up and rotate the shaft until the rotor points to #1 terminal like it should.

 

So i want to switch my plugs to 180 degrees where the firing order chart shows them? Sorry but i actually find timing in my chiltons manual =| Im sorry i have so many questions. What am i looking for when i flip them?

 

If you accidentally installed your distributor 180* out,
then swapping your plug wires 180* on the cap will make the engine run normally. That would be your clue that you are definitely 180* off on the distributor.

Why did you pull out the distributor in the first place?