Ok so I tore this little guy down. It's a 2.2 straight 4 push rod engine...the 2.2 Y or something like that. It's a 1987 4x4 - 5 speed with high/low range. So while I was in her deep with a head gasket job, I also replaced: fuel filter, radiator, fan clutch, dist. cap/rotor, spark plugs, wires, and of course all new belts, hoses and fluids. I also had the fuel injectors rebuilt by "witchhunter.com" while I had them off. After I put it all back together, it would not start right away. I was afraid I was about to kill the battery but then started to turn over and fire. Then it would fire and turn over within a split second after turning the key and idle real rough. But once any gas was given it didn't want it, only cough, sputter and die. So then I started messing with the timing and now it won't even turn over at all, it fires after sitting for a minute but will not continue to fire....only once. I went from bad to worse. The machine shop that did the valve job when I had the head off said they took 0.008 off the head to flatten it, said it was warped. I was worried too much was taken off the head and which made the push rods longer and the valves wouldn't close. but that little off shouldn't make a difference. My compression is coming in at 140-145 on #1 and 2. I didn't check #3 or 4. Anyway factory specs say 178 or greater, but the machine shop said 140 is pleanty, more than enough to run and is normal for our elevation. I live at around 6000 feet. I didn't know this before. Anyway any thoughts are appreciated. I'm stumped. I'm positive I've got all the vacume line hooked up correctly and none of the hoses are cracked. I replaced most all and checked the ones I didn't. I marked the hell out of them and they all went right back into place perfectly when I was putting it back together. Peace guy's....thanks fellas

I had similar problem after head job on 86 4runner w/22re. I was getting fire but was running rough and would die. My son suggested I hook up the tube going from the air filter housing to the intake. I thought he was crazy but it worked. Seems the computer knows if you have air flow at the filter housing and with out it being hooked up it was reading no flow. Also had to replace the cold start injector solenoid/switch.

Thanks. All my hoses are hooked up. I was really careful about that. I may replace the cold start injector solenoid but I'm afraid to just start replacing stuff and chasing a ghost. It was running fine before the head job (only overheating on extended climbs) so no reason that would be bad? I don't know.

Actually, it's a 2.4L overhead cam engine. No push rods, but rather rockers. Your timing could be 180degrees off. Double check that cyl 1 is TDC, Remove your valve cover. Verify the dot is just to the left of top center of the cam gear. Check your valve clearances while you are there. .008 intake, .012 exhaust. Be sure that rotor is pointing to the post for Cyl 1 before buttoning down. FYI, cranking could take some time the first time. Gotta pump that fuel back into the empty fuel rail and build pressure before it can be spurted into the injector. Head shave with stock head gasket are usually fine up to .015" material removal.

Thanks, I checked this last night, when at TDC I'm pointing to #1 spark wire. is this even possible to have off, isn't the rotor hard geared with the crank shaft? Also very early on after assembly it did fire and run, but real rough and for about 15 seconds or so I had the RPM's up high, then I let idle back down and I wasn't able to get it again. Now it doesn't even fire at all. For a little while there I would crank - crank - crank. Then sit for a minute, then when I cranked again it would fire a cough but that was it...then just crank some more. It's not even doing that anymore, only crank. I can't believe the battery isn't dead, it's been cranking like crazy. I've got spark and I've got fuel pressure and I've got compression. I think that only leaves timing??? but I went through the check and seems right???? Anyway thanks for thoughts, I need some direction. I feel like I've looked at everything.

Not the crankshaft, but the camshaft. The distributor was removed to remove the head, right? Coulda been plugged in being off a tooth or 2.

Almost sounds like you're 180 out.

Recheck the TC setup too.

http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/maintenance/timingchain/

When I rebuilt my 22R, it wouldn't run worth a crap initially. Then I re-adjusted the valves, and it ran great.
Just a thought.

The distributor rotor is geared to the camshaft, which is in turn connected by chain (TC) to the crankshaft, so really you have two places you could be off a tooth or two. I would agree with kewlynx, start by checking the timing chain.

I would set everything to TDC and start at the bottom and work my way up, verify that the crank is in the right spot (pull a spark plug and look in to the #1 cylinder, you should see the piston at the very top when the crank shows TDC)

Then check that the cam is in the right spot, it is very possible that you are one or two teeth off on the timing chain which would let it fire, but not run (sometimes).

Then Check the distributor to make sure it lines up with everything else.

If nothing is off on any of those it doesn't hurt to check the valve clearance, but they would have to be pretty far off to not let the engine run at all. Also, never hurts to check all the EGR stuff on the back of the head, I have definitely forgotten to bolt the EGR valve back on and then not been able to start/idle the engine.

Cool, thanks for these thoughts. My engine is 4Y-E, sorry I messed that up before. It's an 87 van, 4x4, 5 speed, 2.2 liter. I didn't have to remove the distributor or the timing chain, which was cool. I checked anyway and sure enough at #1 TDC compression stroke (valves closed) my rotor is looking right at #1. When I removed the rocker arms and shaft I kept all the push rods in order, I understand they can have unique wear patterns....anyway they're all the same length so doesn't matter. This thing seems to just not want to run. I love my T100 and it does everything and all I ask without complaining a bit. I want to love this van but she's not loving me right now....Anymore thoughts, I'm wide open and dieing on the vine.