My truck is trying to drive me crazy! It was leaking antifreeze and I had trouble with one of my spark plug threads so I pulled my heads. While I was there I replaced the timing chain, and bought an ultrasonic cleaner and baptized my injectors, and installed new plugs. Now, she runs fair at idle, acceleration, and coasting, but if you maintain a steady speed, she'll lurch and surge and try to snap yer neck! I borrowed a timing light, and it hovers between 9 degrees below TDC to TDC at idle, until it will speed up slightly and hold at TDC, but then go back to a slightly shaky idle... I tried to adjust the distributer, untill I remembered that's for a points system, and I tried to put it back.

 

When you rev it up, it will retard the timing back to around 20+ degrees below TDC...

 

any........ thoughts......... whatsoever....... How come all threads seem to end when I post?!?

 

You're asking pretty technical questions. If we have no idea how to help, we aren't going to post "Sorry, no clue, good luck!" Or at least, not most of the time.

Wait for more guys to log in and see. Honestly, your post has only been up for one day, keep bumping it and give it some time!

 

You might have put the timing chain on wrong (not lined it up correctly).

Also, you might have damaged the camshaft position sensor when you were fiddling with the distributor.

 

Try cleaning or replacing the TPS.

 

I've already tried it... the TPS anyway. I thought it was an electronic advance on the spark, not a retard.... and it's retarding big time..

 

Also, I didn't touch the distributor untill it was already messing up.... Oh for the power to read my truck's mind!! I could see me now.... {(MAP sensor response slow, better set a trouble code! Cylinder one timing retard 5*, fuel low: I don't care how much it costs feed me!)}.. Maybe not...

 

Aparently, Permatex was invented for a reason! You're supposed to put it on intake manifold gaskets to prevent vacuum leaks. Runs all better! It seems I was looking at the timing backwards, and it was advancing? Thanks so much to all who chimed in. Ya"ll rock!!!