I've been tinkering around with it and found out it is indeed backfiring through the intake (the actual noise is coming from the air filter), messed with the ignition timing, advancing and retarding it does nothing for the symptoms, I'm just trying to get it going right asap so I can start driving it. I have an 86 CRX Si, with a blacktop swap (D16a1), freshly rebuilt, 3 angle valve job, new rings, pistons, etc, but the rebuilt motor has been sitting (dont know if this has anything to do with it. Just got it running a couple days ago. Before I had the exhaust hooked up, it was open header. It was popping and backfiring out of the header, and still no power. Now, im pretty sure its still backfiring inside the header, which is the noise, but why is it popping so much, and no power, and idling high?!? Cam timing is dead on, ignition timing hasnt been touched yet, Still working on the vacuum part of it. Before I had everything hooked up correctly, but now I am working to delete the unnecessary stuff, such as some of the solenoids, and the charcoal canister (which is debatable for some people). Just wanted some input as to what yall think the main issue is here. Also no CEL is on, and it seems to run better the higher the RPMS (still no power as far as idle goes, just revving wise), freshly rebuilt motor and head just got back from machine shop. New plugs, new wires, new cap, new rotor button, new fuel filter, new gas tank, new Walbro fuel pump, cleaned the eavc, Lucas injector cleaner in use now, cleaned the microfilters on the injectors, all grounds are good, any ideas? Could it be wiring at all, or would it not run if wires were mixed around? I am using the hasport swap harness (the actual directions say its for a 85-87 SI to b18 (dont know if itd be the same for a d16a1 or not)).

 

as long as your car was already mpfi which I think the SI is back in firstgen most of the wires should plug without a harness, but I may be wrong as its a firstgen and im a secondgen guy,

sounds like timing though, and with a blacktop timing can be a bitch, I hate timing dohc engines.....

if the harness you have converts to a obd0 b18 it should be the same as a 88-91 d-series, probably the a1 as well but I cant promise it.