Timing problem 87 GT
 

I have built an 87 GT aluminum heads, intake E-303 cam various other parts including a mass air conversion, I have hooked every thing back up and cant seem to get it to run right - It will start but its hard then the engine shakes bad,the hedders heat up cherry red within 1-2 minutes if I can keep it running that long, and when i try to give it a little fuel the internals seem to get mad if you know what I mean I know the firing order and that #1 needs to be up on the compression stroke, but will it even start if it is on the exhaust stroke? I have tried lots of diffrent things and nothing I do seems to help I have unplugged the spout and tried it nothing changes I guess it s off to the service dept at the dealer any help or replies would be appreciated. Thanks

just a dumb suggestion but check all of ur plug wires....

later

have you tried resetting the computer? disconnect the battery for 10 minutes and then replace the cable and start the motor and let it idle for 20 minutes it will then reset itself. Red hedders means its running lean. check all your sensors and connections as well as injectors. something is causing a lean condition. what about a vaccume leak.?

Cherry red headers usually indicates severely retarded timing...like ATDC instead of BTDC. What's your timing set at when you start it up (SPOUT out)? From what you describe, it sounds like your base timing is probably 0 degrees or even worse. If you can't get the timing situated with small adjustments of the distributor then you've probably got it stabbed one tooth off.

Yup, that sounds exactly like what it is! I did just that a few months ago after I installed my new heads. I could have sworn I was on TDC when I put the distributor back in, but I ended up being one tooth off. Car did exactly what you described, just I didn't let it run long enough to have the headers glow.