Well, I am happy to report that I got the car put back all together and for the first time in my life it started right up...immediately. I was pretty pleased with that. Doesn't even have a CEL right now. The only issue I have is something to do with the idle. I'm not going to describe it as rough, so much as "loping". Forum research brought up a lot of remmendations about IAC, EGR, and MAF; but it can't hurt to ask.
I'm guessing its one of the 3, but I saw somebody was asking another poster to idle it with the A/C on to check what happens. He mentioned that it would probably stall out. I figured it wouldn't hurt, so I gave it a shot. Much to my surprise, it actually smoothed out the idle. High beams and A/C made it even better.
The only other thing that might be pertinent is that I decided last minute to hollow out the first cat. The material was already cracked, I messed with it some just to check it out, made it worse, and decided "what the hey, hollow it out." I did honestly get everything out of it, so I'm not worried about that stuff; but I just thought that might have something to do with it.
Just to clarify the "loping"; the tach is hopping from 500-600 RPMs, but the car feels like it gets a solid rotation when the tach drops to 500, pushes back up to 600, but then at 600 its as if it totally drops, but catches itself back at 500 got another push. It goes through that whole sequence about 4 times a second. It reminds me of a V8 with modded cams a little. Runs nice and smooth if I give it some gas too.
I'm guessing its one of the 3, but I saw somebody was asking another poster to idle it with the A/C on to check what happens. He mentioned that it would probably stall out. I figured it wouldn't hurt, so I gave it a shot. Much to my surprise, it actually smoothed out the idle. High beams and A/C made it even better.
The only other thing that might be pertinent is that I decided last minute to hollow out the first cat. The material was already cracked, I messed with it some just to check it out, made it worse, and decided "what the hey, hollow it out." I did honestly get everything out of it, so I'm not worried about that stuff; but I just thought that might have something to do with it.
Just to clarify the "loping"; the tach is hopping from 500-600 RPMs, but the car feels like it gets a solid rotation when the tach drops to 500, pushes back up to 600, but then at 600 its as if it totally drops, but catches itself back at 500 got another push. It goes through that whole sequence about 4 times a second. It reminds me of a V8 with modded cams a little. Runs nice and smooth if I give it some gas too.