i have a 2004 nissan maxima that i ran hot and blew the head gasket on and the lifter got stuck i brought new heads and got them put on but i think my timing been set wrong because when you try to start the car it cranks but kills right away you have to keep pressing the gas to keep it running and it has a random misfire and its backfiring and when i backfire even if im pressting the gas it dies so could the be a timing problem or worst and i have a lifter tap but im guessing the lifters are not primed up yet

 

Go back and check all the timing alignment marks for the timing chain.

The lifter tapping is a mechanical adjustment using shims. The engine does not have lifters.

 

Yeah I think the timing is about 180 degrees off because I didn't make sure that the crank was set at top dead center all I did was line the crank and the cams up and put the chain on

And would a rod bearing cause the knocking/tapping noise? Because I noticed when I took the oil pan down I had copper color metal in the pan

 

If you had the timing 180º off, the engine wouldn't start in any way, shape or form. One tooth off is more likely.

A valve tappet noise and a rod knock are different in sound. A tappet is kinda like a click whereas a rod knock is a deeper, more solid sound. And yes copper type metal could be a rod or main bearing. That is not a good thing to find.

 

i think its more than one tooth off because it just spins over i would have to keep pressing the gas while its spinning over just to get it to crank but it dies soon as i stop pressing the gas or it would back fire and shut off and my spark plugs are fouled so yea im pretty sure the timing is off now

with the knocking, the speed of the knocking increases as the rpm raises and its a deeper sounding knock so im pretty sure its rod bearings

but ill tear it down and retime it and change the bearings this weekend

thanks alot for replying to this, ive done a lot of research on my problems after what you had to say