I recently bought a 1990 Toyota pickup with the 22R with a blown head gasket. I replaced the head gasket and all necessary gaskets along with the repair. I had the head pressure tested to confirm no cracks or warpage. I adjusted the valves after torquing the head bolts. When I try to start it, it turns over for 10-15 seconds and finally starts to run with the pedal to the floor. It will run for about 15-20 seconds with the pedal on the floor constantly sputtering then die. It takes starting fluid to get that much out of it. When I changed the head gasket I left the timing chain intact and didn’t change anything there. With the #1 piston on TDC the rotor button is lined up with #1 on the distributor cap. Therefore I don’t think I have a timing issue. I have plenty of spark on all cylinders. It ran fine before I started working on it. Any suggestions or advice would be much appreciated.

 

Did you actually SET the timing properly, ie according to the FSM? Did you check it, best you could, with an actual timing light?

Do you hear the fuel pump running with 1) the test contacts Fp to B+ jumped? Did you jump the test contacts and try to start it? Never leave the jumper in, BTW, it's an essential safety feature. 2) the AFM gate pushed open slightly? 3) the key to start, without having the clutch pedal depressed, or the Clutch Cancel switch activated? That's the quickest, easiest way to hear if the fuel pump runs when it should.
Did you try putting a pressure gauge on the cold start injector to see what pressure the fuel pump is putting out, presuming it runs with the test jumper in?

Did you align the TPS according to the FSM?

Did you triple check ALL the vacuum lines are correctly placed, and have no cracks or leaks of any kind? Did you spray starter fluid or carb cleaner at the larger hoses, like the one going from the AFM to the Throttle Body, while trying to start it? Did it make a difference? Did you examine that hose in particular for any obvious cracks or leaks of any sort?

Those are just the quickies I can think of, in order of what I think is importance. I hope something in all my rambling helps a little...
Pat☺

 

I appreciate the quick feedback Pat. I got the truck up and running earlier today I hadn’t had a chance the get back on here. I had a vacuum line off the BVSV. Once I got that hooked up it fired up but sounded a little sick. I had to rotate the distributor back one tooth and it runs great now.

 

Great!
Glad you got it running right

Now go out and enjoy t. I sure enjoy both of mine.
Pat☺