I've got an 86 turbo runner and the truck hates me. Yesterday, I got the truck running again. Complete tune-up, it ran great but I didn't have the exhaust manifold gasket. I drove around the neighberhood, It spooled well and did just fine. This after noon I started it up drove it around the block and again it did fine. Two hours later I put in the new gasket and hooked everything back up. Now it turns over runs for 3 seconds and shuts off. Next consecutive tries it just turns over. Wait 5 minutes and It repeats. While it's running If I give it gas it dies. As of now, I have a fully charged battery on it and it won't even turn over. The truck has great compression the motor is tight. I just don't know anymore. Please help.... Cliff

 

have you checked all of the electronics.. ie starter alternator.. FUSES ??
mine have a bad ecu, so my mechanic says, replaced it and it ran good

 

Thought you were selling the turbo since it had a bad wastegate?

Anyways you're saying it died and wont start after reconnecting the exhaust, or are you saying it won't crank over?
If it won't run, maybe the cat's plugged? If it dies and won't crank over after a few minutes of running, hard to say.
What all did you do to the engine?

 

I sold it to my brother but i got to fix it. the turbo was off the truck, I reinstalled it. The wastegate works fine, turbo spools fine, It's getting fuel and spark the timing is dead on. I'll check the cat tonight.