Well I just got done doing a head gasket on the 22RE in my '87 4Runner along with a new timing chain, water pump and front cover. Now I'm having all kinds of timing issues. It started right up on the 1st try but it is currently idleing at about 1400 RPM's(it's smooth, just high) and when you try to rev it up or give it gas it just kind of bogs and hesitates over and over again. Messing with the distributer will only get me 1400 RPMS minimum. I fooled around with the TPS a bit and at one point it dropped the idle down pretty far but it was not a smooth idle. I'm pretty mechanically inclined and have timed cars before but this one is giving me trouble. A mechanic buddy of mine is coming over later tonight to take a look at it. So I just wanted to get some info now that I can pass on to him later if needed later. I'd appreciate any 1st hand info you can pass on to help me get this thing back on the road. It's my daily driver and has been down over a week while I did the HG myself in my garage in the evenings.
Thanks a lot.
Mark

 

possibly 180 degrees out, what did you set the timing at?

 

My buddy had a similar problem on his truck a couple years ago and it turned out to be because he didn't put the washer in between the cam and distributer drive gear. It wouldn't idle below 1100 rpm and we could not time it. That washer is like a spacer for the distributer gear and when not installed the timing was all out of whack.

 

Hmm, interesting. Was it a pretty big washer then? Was this washer on the bolt that basically goes through the gear for the distributer? Or did it go between the gear and the cam? I don't remember any washer in that vicinity when I pulled it all apart.
I'm sitting at work right now and can't look at the truck but I definately don't recall anything like that ever being there...thanks for any additional info.
Mark

 

'messed with the TPS'
??

'Messing' with the TPS is not the way to set it. Pretty much guarantee that you don't have it set right if you 'messed' with it.
Take the throttle body off and set the TPS correctly.
Also follow the check procedure, you may have a bad TPS which will certainly cause what you describe.

Also, look for vacuum leaks (maybe you forgot to hook something up - easy enough to do) as they will also cause what you describe.

 

We just started simple with the No. 1 cycliner at TDC we set the rotor facing the No. 1 wire in the cap. Initially it took several cranks to start then it shot up to about 1400 and idled relatively smoothly but that was the slowest it would idle. Just an FYI, this was with the throttle cable loose(with slack) so the cable is not the issue.
Then we assumed we were perhaps a tooth off, so we move the disty 1 tooth, and that is when we got the high idle as well as the surging when you try to rev it up or try to just hold the RPM's higher.
Sorry for my partial vagueness, I was sitting in the driver seat starting the truck and monitoring the RPM's most of the time.
Thanks again.
Mark

 

By "messed" I meant rotated it ever so slightly. When I removed the intake manifold I actually unscrewed the TPS instead of just unplugging it. I did so because the clip holding that plug on looked a bit brittle and I didn't want to risk damaging that plug.
All Vacuum lines look good and are connected properly. I took lots of detailed pictures before hand of all electrical plugs and vacuum lines before I tore it down.
Thanks.
Mark
Also, as far as "set" the TPS, I suppose that may be our issue. Is there 1 "set in stone" way to set the TPS? I thought it was adjustable for a reason?

 

http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTricks/TPS/index.shtml

Once you get it set right you can set the idle with the idle adjust screw (if its off) and then it should time right. if the tps is off it wont idle low enough to properly time it

 

I actually have mine apart right now in my garage and I can look at my dist gear tonight and see if I have a washer on there.

PS Mark I pm'ed you about the pics you took.

Rob