Hi, my 22r runs rough. Hard to start, hard to keep running. Stumbles and backfires occasionally. Sounds "funny", popping and ticking. Runs better at hugher RPMs. I got a NEW complete head from Engnbldr; stock head, 268 cam. I installed the head carefully using new head bolts from dealer. New vacume, fuel, coolant, EGR hoses and gaskets. Cleaned the EGR pipe, replaced the EGR valve and Vacume Modulator. Engine has a remanufactered stock carb, Doug Thor head, reman dist w/ vac. advances, and new fuel pump. Adjusted valves according to Haynes manual.

I checked and re-checked using a small screwdriver in the plug hole; the crank is at TDC. The cam is set with the "arrow" at 12 o'clock; the 2 sprocket "dots", also @ 12 o'clock, line up w/ arrow. Had a bit of trouble getting the sprocket on til I realized the chain was loaded up by the tensioner. Then it went smoothly. Chain was a bit loose on the drivers side and tight on the pass side. When I opened it back up after running awhile, it was tight on both sides. Dist has marks from removal on vac advances of where rotor pointed to #1 and is lined up, more or less. There is spark to all 4 plugs, as pulling them 1 at a time either killed the engine or made it run as though it were about to die.

The cam is EPN (whatever that is ?) 268 degrees, 0.425. I don't really know what these numbers mean. Do I need to set the position of the cam relative to the crank/dist differently due to this change from stock? It seems to me that it runs as if it is a tooth off or something like that. I have tried changing the dist. placement by a tooth either way but that doesn't help--it just moves the dist left or right, if you understand me.

Any thoughts or ideas from you all are welcome and appreciated. Thanks from the 49th...Rusty