89 pickup 22RE, friends daughter overheated it not sure how many times. Compression test led to head or gasket. It did run but poorly w/white smoke. Pulled head replaced head and gasket. Verify TDC @ #1 cyl. Cranks like crazy no start. Friend pulled dist bolt turned dist as far as it will go to the left. Engine starts won't stay running unless you slowly turn dist is back where it should be. But then slowly dies. Thought maybe wires on wrong, checked were good. Thought maybe my TDC was wrong and 180 out flipped dist no change. Verify TCD compression stroke again timing mark on 5. Still cranks no start. Pulled codes and only has 12. Thinks timing crank to Cam must be off. Ideas or suggestions. Thanks

 

While you had the head off did you have the timing cover removed ??

It sounds like when the Cam gear was removed it was reinstalled off enough to cause your problem

Remember Ignition timing and Cam Timing are not the same.

I guessing the the head and block were checked for being warped and the head for cracks

 

hopefully they did...