So I finished the top end rebuild on my engine about 2 1/2 weeks ago due to a blown head gasket. Was running on 3 cylinders for quite some time so I decided to finally rip it apart and fix it. I've been driving it ever since and its been running good despite one problem.

When I go to take off in first gear, the trucks wants to bog down and die unless I give it a lot of RPM's before disengaging the clutch. (Can be kind of iffy sometimes pulling out in traffic having it bog down like it does in first). At that, if I floor it in first gear it doesnt hop up and go like it did before the rebuild. Even so in second gear as well. Those are low gears and usually have more umpf to them but my umpf seems to have disappeared.

I was thinking maybe my timing is off? Right now the line on the distributor cap is perfectly lined up with the line on the block, it isn't advanced or retarded (from the looks of her if that's how it works). If anybody knows how to fix this I would greatly appreciate it! Thank you

P.S. I know the 3VZE is the "3.Slow" But it should be acting like this normally, it wasn't before even with the blown gasket.

 

Head down to Harbor Freight and pick up a $20 timing light. Then check out the appropriate page in the sticky FSM link at the top of this forum (this page http://ether3al.physic.al/93fsm-mobile/ignition/13distribu.pdf) and make sure the timing is set correctly. It's not something you can do by looking at the distributor, and it's too important for guessing.

Retarded timing will rob you of power and mileage, and timing that's too far advanced can damage your engine. Not good either way.