1.88 heads are not helping any... sounds like a timing/gear ratio issue or your valves are too tight if you have adj. rockers. u dont have to pull the cover to find out the gear ratio....all you do is mark a spot on your tire as well on the pinon yolk, rotate the tire 1 complete time and while doing the rotation count the # of times the yolk spins. i.e. 1 complete turn of the tire = 3.25 spins of the yolk = 3:23 gear. pretty simple. good luck!!