just figured out why the new motor (ls b18b with 98 ls head)wouldn't idle right or have any power what so ever....the damn timing belt is skipping a tooth......i have reinstalled a new belt and the old belt at least 50 times i cannot get it to stop skipping....everything is at top dead center......installed it according to manual......and no go......i cannot figure the damn belt out......i even tried using an gsr timing belt.........what else can i do??? did search and tried other methods on the board but no go!

 

Milled head? Thin gasket? Both? Could it be that the timing belt tensioner is unable to take up the slack?

 

make sure you are using a b18b timing belt and b18b water pump.

 

Does this actually matter? I have a b16, with a GSR timing belt and who knows what kind of water pump. (I think it's from a GSR too) I've been having idle problems like mad as well.