You know, it may be embarrassing and frustrating, but you've done a shitload more than most newbies here would ever try... and you've done quite well. ;)

New News?
 

Been a few days with any word?

When I took my my FPR off for the rebuild - I just put it back on with a new copper washer and no problem. Wonder if your model year is that much different then mine (90') Don't reacall an extra O' ring.

There's no copper washer for the lower junction... there's a steel washer which isn't removable and an o-ring under it. There wasn't any change to this over any of the years. If yours was different then it's not Denso or had been modified.

new fpr
 

so i got the new fpr. and after getting the exact washers as the originals that i had it still leaked.....


turns out they were the wrong size from the beginning. i hate whoever rebuilt this in the past.

ill kill em.

one of the many things that were wrong when i was putting this back together.

car is running
 

yes so i changed out the washers on the union thats connected to the fpr and.

bam! no leaks. car is running and sounds good. sooooo in order for me to fully wrap this up i will let you all know in great detail what happened next.

1. car was started we checked for leaks and let it run for a little bit. had small leaks around the cam covers. i bought new bolts for them, so i dont know why they were still leaking. car smoked for a little bit of course. i couldnt tell if it was burning oil or if it was the paint coming off of my manifold. :p either way the smell and smoke left.
2. turned it off and got it set up for timing.
3. turned it on and timed the car fairly easily.
4. drove up the street and back then checked for leaks again.
5. left it running as we got the hood.
6. came back and the car was still idling nicely.
7. still oil leaking but really not much. *afterthought* i should replace the o-ring for the distributer. i didnt think about it at the time and also didnt know how great of importance they are.
8. drove to starbucks to show the lady at work. took it easy.
9. drove a mile or so up the hill doing short bursts, nothing crazy of course.
10. drove back to starbucks and checked for leaks. could see some small drips on the ground. underneath the distributer part of the engine and under the front driver side of the engine. still nothing crazy. causght a small whiff of what i think was burning oil (figured from the covers leaking slowly to the block)
11. drove to my brothers house a couple miles away. started to have a hard time idling, lights started dimming. needed a second set of eyes and it was late and he had a flashlight. checked for fluids on a steep grade (not too smart) no oil of course.
12. put a quart in, still no oil.
13. took his truck to kragen a couple miles away and got oil.
14. cam back and parked the car on flat ground.
15. filled up the car with about 2 1/2 more quarts
16. drove to starbucks and waited for lady to get off work. check for drips, couldnt tell in the dark. car idled better.
17. lady got off work and followed me back.
18. parked and car had burning oil smell still.

ok so my thoughts on whats going on

my oil pump wasnt replaced. still freaks me out. though i do have oil coming out of the cams sooo there has to be some pressure? i just hate that my gauge doesnt work. i think im always going to be paranoid about this

also oil leaking around the cam covers i guess would explain the oil smell.

also when i started up the car the verry first time a few weeks back the oile sensor tot he right of the oil filter was leaking. maybe its leaking again? ill have to check later. oh and when i went to fill up the car with oil, when i tool the cap off it was steaming inside. doubt this means anything since it was pretty cold and the engine is pretty hot but still. so it looks like im almost there. i just want this to be over

video
 

Glad it's running, just a couple thoughts though... You said that you kept adding oil? Is it because it was getting low on oil, or you thought it was low because your gauge shows no pressure? And I would try and clean off the contact on the oil pressure switch and reinstall the connector and see if that fixes it, otherwise you may want to put another oil pressure gauge in so that you can monitor it.

Also now that you've got it running, shut it off and check for codes! Wanna make sure everything is set up right and you don't have any gremlins hiding in the car...

One last thing, as much as I bet you would love to take your intake off again, you need to fix your leaky valve cover gaskets. That can only cause more problems down the road.

it was getting low on oil. i checked the dipstick. yea im going to check that oil pressure connector and see what i find. maybe that round sensor thing is bad? could it be a fuse? i really want that gauge working. and yes i definitely need to check the codes tonight. ill go over supragirls thread on how to read them.

to you have any recommendations for replacement bolts for the covers?

You may replace the screws with M6 hex bolts, but whatever you use remember not to over tighten them! 22 INCH lbs, is spec... too much and you may warp the covers, split the seal, or prematurely compress the seal; all of which will result in continued leaks.

The ECU requires a signal from the stock oil pressure sender. From what I understand, without it the ECU reacts as if there is a critical fault: pulls timing, adds fuel. Even if you want to swap in an aftermarket oil pressure gauge you really should get the sender working and connected. As btwilson said, it's most likely the connection.

When you installed the head did you place RTV at the corners of the rear timing plate as indicated in the TSRM? If not you're not going to be happy.

No rtv...

What have I done?