Diesel guy crossing the line here! I own a Powerstroke shop and drive nothing but diesels until the past few months I have been on a weird kick. It started with me wanting a old school boat and it turned into scoring a 69 Cadillac Fleetwood 75 (yes I bleed blue but you cant hate on old Cadillacs so to me they get a free pass lol). A few weeks later one of my techs and I get into a cock fight on who can build the best car in a 2k budget. So lucky as I am I scored a 84 SVO (always wanted one anyways because even though I am a diesel freak turbo gas burners get a free pass as well) for $1800. Previous owner blew the engine and rebuilt the bottom end. It has a t3t4 63 trim compressor housing, 3" down pipe and I straight piped it 3" back, front mount intercooler, Aeromotive FPR, Ranger roller cam, adjustable cam sprocket, Innovate motorsports air/fuel, oem plugs, Walbro 255, 35psi brown tops, who freaking knows what kind of shifter but its bad ass lol, roll cage and right now its rolling on 17" Bullitt style rims. Anyways he couldn't get it to run right so he let it go. Would idle good but cut up mid-upper rpm range. All of that being said that is exactly how I got the car besides the mid pipe back exhaust and all upgrades are newer. With that said he told me this current issue wasn't there before the engine let go (said it melted a piston going down the interstate only running 15psi). So far I have set tps, replaced IAC valve and replaced plug wires (napa brand and I know I am going to find some oem). Last night I verified timing belt was correct but with the adjustable cam sprocket I am not sure I trust it yet. After that I verified he had the distributor in 180 degrees out yet het clocked the wires correctly 180 out lol. I fixed that BUT he removed the timing belt cover including the bottom portion with crank timing marker so I just eye balled it. Anyways it started and ran somewhat similar but while checking higher rpms it started to bog down on me. I walked away for a while and when I came back it started but didn't want to stay running but did. I saw the header starting to glow just at high idle so I shut it down. Now it doesn't want to start. I am at the point I want to pull the cam gear and crank pulley and ensure cam timing is 100% correct, cut the belt cover so I can install the lower portion with crank timing marker and start from scratch. Before all of this I verified it would hold about 20" vacuum at idle via Autometer boost gauge. I am a diesel dude so not sure if this is correct. I say that because obviously a vacuum leak is on the list of possible issues here. Any tips would be greatly appreciated. Btw my competition on this is one of my techs and another shop owner. Other shop owner is using his 405hp crate engine he was gonna put in his dirt track car and has 2k to spend on a chassis. My tech was eye balling a 4g63t Talon so the challenge is just that lol. Competition will be 1/8th and 1/4 mile, road course and 60-0 stopping.