Hi there,
I just recently bought an 89' pickup and swapped the old 3.0 with a newer one. I got the engine to start, but it will only start/run if the distributor is rotated all the way to the right (if you are looking straight at the distributor). I'm quite sure this isn't normal so I'm wondering what the cause is?
Thanks
Alex

 

Also the engine runs pretty rough, not sure if related or due to vacuum lines being old and split...

 

And your timing light says ... ? They're only $20; trying to set timing without a timing light is just another name for blowing a hole in a piston.

When the distributor is removed, it has to be put back in "the right way." The helical distributor gear has 13 teeth, so if you are off one tooth the timing will be off about 28°.
http://personal.utulsa.edu/~nathan-b...13distribu.pdf