Fresh rebuilt engine swap, idle/timing problems

[beetleswamp]

As the title says I just put in a reman engine from another 86 that I got back from the builders a year ago. We were hoping for the no-problemo start up but looks like the gremlins had other ideas

Took a long time to fire up and it was idling kinda high, occasionally misses and dies. Can be difficult to start up again sometimes, and at other times it fires right up. Fluke tach keeps varying wildly between 600 and 1400.

Codes 6 and 10. Flashes six times and then ten times. I had replaced the TPS before and it worked great, but put a new plug on it (along with all the other crumbly plastic plugs) and according to another recent forum post there are apparently some issues with the Beck Arnley TPS so probably worth a check. Air conditioner has been removed and as far as I know the switches are off.

Most disturbing thing is that in order to get the timing light correct I have to turn the distributor all the way to lock. Sometimes the timing mark is bouncing all over the place, too. Re-stabbed the distributor a couple times to make sure it was not off a tooth and this is the closest I can get it. Double checked and rotor lines up with No 1 on TDC.

I am done for today but tomorrow have a day off so the order of business is:

Check all vacuum lines to make sure they are properly routed and all plugs are snapped in tight

Figure out what the idle screw is supposed to be set at and make sure it is correct

Take off throttle body and inspect TPS connections, recalibrate in case I knocked something loose.

Any other suggestions? Thanks and will post some pictures when it is time to celebrate.