Engine idle not working

[Fordication]

Have you considered the possibility of a blocked exhaust? Maybe a heat riser valve stuck shut? Or along those lines an EGR valve that's stuck open.. or since you had mentioned messing around with the vacuum lines early on, maybe inadvertently hooking a vacuum line that has full manifold vacuum to the EGR valve holding it open?

Exhaust is barely hanging on by a thread. There are so many holes in it, it was the first thing on my list to replace. Already bought a flowmaster fx 2.5 inch muffler for it. Installed new kyb gas adjust shocks yesterday. New pcv valve today. Bought all new belts and hoses and was going to flush the transmission and replace the filter and gaskets. Already flushed power steering and brake system but found that the rubber gasket on the master cylinder cover has hardened and will not seal properly so ordered a new gasket then sanded the flat surfaces on the master cylinder so that when the new gasket gets here, I can have a good seal. All of this since Tuesday morning.

 

[Fordication]

If it does have an original plastic camshaft timing gear, it only takes one startup from a running car to jump a tooth. Back in the day, my brother and I used to get Mopars cheap that didn't "run" and just needed a new timing set!

To me this is what I suspect. So there is plastic on this timing camshaft timing gear?

 

[Xcudame]

Camshaft gear looks something like this. Notice it has "broken" teeth.

 

[Fordication]

Camshaft gear looks something like this. Notice it has "broken" teeth.

View attachment 151806

So I need to pull my oil pan and look for nylon bits.

 

[Ricks72Chlgr440]

Camshaft gear looks something like this. Notice it has "broken" teeth.

View attachment 151806

Many years ago I was racing a camaro and when I floored the pedal I heard a "kapow" from the engine and it died. Towed it to the base auto hobby shop and found the nylon timing gear had sheared. Pump screen and pan was full of nylon. Definitely the Achilles heel of our OE style classic engines!