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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Super Dragpack" data-source="post: 542898" data-attributes="member: 11187">Hi,The car in question is a 94 5.0 Auto Convertible with just 55k miles and 2.73 gears.I purchase the car a few months back and drove it about 400 miles home. It drove poorly (but did 25mpg), the gearbox was juddering, the engine lacked power, and made lots of funny noices etc, so I pulled the motor and tranny when I got back.I immediately noticed that it had no air filter (all stock, but no element within the housing) - a quick call to the previous owner suggested it had been this way for over 3 years.I completely rebuilt the engine - despite no wear found I replaced all seals, bearings and more and spent hours reseating the badly damaged valves and seats. I replaced the tranny fluid with Mercon V and put it all back together. I also removed the EGR, Smog pump, AC and Cats.She starts, runs and idles PERFECTLY and sounds great. The engine sounds excellent and pulls a little better, BUT now after another 400 miles of running it in I have started to notice some issues as I start to stand on it and push it a bit more.To say its lacking power is an understatement (compared to my 5.0 Fox), a heavy press of the pedal will take the revs to 2100 revs while the car slowly gains speed (to around 20-25mph) and then the revs rise slowly to about 3500rpm - sometimes it will then get a little power surge but normally it will plod on with a level of performance a diesel would be embarrassed with.I have checked and double checked the timing, checked all the connections and more.On idle it has a heavy fuel exhaust smell and the fuel consumption around town is very poor although on a run its fine. I have occasionally got RICH codes from the ECU and have also got LEAN codes too at times but none this week despite giving it a good run.My main concern is the following:* It seems to be pinking (pinging - i.e. detonation) - but its hard to tell with this louder exhaust* If I unplug the MAF it hardly wants to run. It will stall from idle and has no extra power* Heavy exhaust smell at idleI have ordered some MAF cleaner and I intend on removing the crank damper to check the outer ring has not shifted and given me inaccurate timing marks (although it seems ultra smooth).Any suggestions appreciated. Before you ask, I am a professional engine builder - specialising in 289 and 302 engine in early Mustangs but also involved with a lot of modern engines too. I am either used to a carb or the benefits of an OBD2 system. I am so tempted to pull this EFI and put a carb on! I know it is mechanically perfect (except maybe the suspect damper which I will check asap) but this injection crap and ECU controlled timing is a concern to me.If I set the base timing at 12degrees and then connect the spout, what timing should I expect to see? What level of advance should I see at certain revs (with no load)? I know its advancing - maybe I need to note the total advance etc and report that back to you guys.I eagerly await any suggestions.</blockquote>