bad idle and backfiring

[mosher41]

i just got a 99 4.0 ranger and changed both head gaskets....the heads were pressure checked and were deemed ok. this truck did not run when I got it.
Now it is very hard starting, the idle is terrible and it is backfiring. the left side plugs are very sooty the right ones look better but still dark. The guy had it partialy apart so.... I have a ground strap that hooks to the left cylinder head but don't know where the other end grounds too. I have no CEL at this point. I almost thought of a timing chain the way it starts ????

 

[creepinjeepster]

Could be timing chain. Could even be a simple thing as timing is off. Have you checked? Double checked the firing order to make sure correct? Broke, missing or disconnected vacuum line somewhere? IAC? Few good places to start troubleshooting with the only cost being your time.

 

[snoman6115]

ya ide say make sure all your wires are on the corredt plug, and jsut go and buy a cheap set of copper autolites and try new plugs, check ur wires for ohms

 

[mosher41]

as best i can see in the chiltons and the way it came apart....the plug wires go from front to back matching up with the cylinders.... is this correct or what ??? it acts like a timing issue. but there is not adjustments. does someone have a plug wire diagram

 

[snoman6115]

no its all messed up. on the dist block. on the left side(facing engine) form front to back its 1-2-3 on the right side from back to front its 4-6-5. ur engine goes 1-2-3 left side and 4-5-6 right side

 

[mosher41]

thats it thank you so much