Idles like crap after head gasket

[My92Ranger]

Hoping someone can throw out a good idea that I apparently cant think of.
I just did a head gasket on my brother 93 2.3.
It ran fine before I tore it down just oil was getting in the antifreeze.
When I got it all back together before I put the fan and shroud back on I started it to make sure it ran OK and it idles rough. Its fine after about 1500 RPMS.
I havent put coolant in it yet but I dont think that would affect anything (didnt run it very long)
I checked for vacuum leaks and I cant find any.
I tried moving the timing belt one tooth in either direction just to make sure I didnt miss it by one (the timing cover on this is all broken so I cant really check to make sure its in time but im pretty sure it is... moving it either way makes it run worse)
Im at a loss.. hoping someone here will have a suggestion that may trigger something in my head.

Thanks for any responses.

 

[Ranger44]

Did you reuse the old head bolts? Make sure all the surfaces were cleaned? Follow torque specs?

Other than that, just got to make sure EVERYTHING is hooked up. You have the MAF on? HO2S's? IAC?

 

[My92Ranger]

New bolts torqued to spec in sequence. I really dont think its anything to do with actually putting the head on the engine. Anything else who knows but I was very careful for that part and ive done hundreds of head gaskets and never failed at that particular part of it

From time to time I leave something unplugged or something if its hidden on me.

MAF sensor is on and hooked up.
Not sure about the o2 sensors.. ill double check.
IAC I think is on fine.

Gonna go out and mess with it after breakfast and see if I find anything else.
Probably gonna throw coolant and a belt on it too. I have found a tsb on the ect causing a rough idle as well as the alternator. So I may as well fill the coolant and put the belt on to rule those out.

 

[Ranger44]

Wasn't meaning to insult your experience. I didn't know what it was.

The alternator being off could screw with it.

I'd get it all slapped back together, and see what it does then.

 

[My92Ranger]

Oh I didnt take it as an insult.. just pointing out I was very careful on that part. Thats the one thing I am really patient with. I think at this point I agree.. get it back together and see what happens. I just didnt want to put everything in my way if I had to keep screwing with the timing but at this point im pretty sure the timing is right considering moving it one tooth either way makes it run worse and it runs bad even at higher idle with the timing moved. With the timing where it is it runs fine once you get the RPMS up.

Heres to hoping.

Guess when it warms up I am gonna hit the junkyard and get some new timing covers for this thing. I dont know why someone felt the need to bust them up but either way it needs them.

 

[My92Ranger]

Somehow I got some of the plug wires crossed. I marked them but some of my marks ran together and threw me off. Anyhow it is now running much smoother and I got an even bigger issue. The #3 spark plug well is filling with coolant on the intake side. I dont see any coolant lines in the area and best I know there is no coolant running through the intake.
The coolant is not dripping down.. its filling up inside the "bowl" that is formed where the intake meets the head.. it seems like it would be coming from the intake but I dont know. Anyone got an idea? Do I need to pull the intake back off or what?

 

[My92Ranger]

Here is a crappy picture with a circle around where the antifreeze is pooling up.

 

[My92Ranger]

Well figured that one out too. Someone didnt think it was important to clean the intake gasket when he cleaned the head. Half of the gasket was still on there.. being late and dark I didnt notice when I bolted on the intake.

Anyway that parts done... runs ok now, just hope the gasket was the problem and not a cracked block or head or something.

Once hes done cleaning the garage and putting up my tools I will go drive it and hope for the best.