So got the manifold gasket and put it all back together. Fired her up with new spark plugs and after resetting the ECM and disconnecting the battery for 15 mins.
Same problem...doesn't want to rev up and just shakes. Sounds like its bogging.
Checked the spark plugs and they are black already. So it's running rich and getting excess fuel.
Cleaned the spark plugs and reinstalled and just let it run at idle...stopped and removed the plugs and they are perfect and not black.
Once you go above idle it is getting excess fuel than required.
About to get a gauge to do my own fuel pressure testing at idle (mechanic said that fuel pressure was fine but I don't trust him) and then watching it as it goes above idle and make sure the fuel pressure stays relatively constant...if it doesn't could it be the regulator or high pressure pump???
Another think I plan on checking is watching all 4 injector pulse signals and seeing if they are correct. Is there a way to check injectors to see if they are putting excess fuel in? Or it could be the signal to the injectors is incorrect or the ECM is not working...
These are my last resorts...
One last thought...If the exhaust passage was restricted could this cause the engine to run rich as the mixture of fuel and air would not be cleared out of the cylinder and then more fuel would be injected and the cycle repeating?
I'm only asking this because when we initially had this problem we were getting some funny stuff out of the exhaust leg. It was salt and crud and if we revved the engine for a period eventually it would clear and the engine would run...
Thanks