Hello all,

I have an 82 380sl that just received new headgaskets, timing chain and all new guides _. Upon starting the car, it backfires, does not want to stay running unless I give it throttle and when I let go it shuts off, I noticed that the header flanges down where it bolts to the exhaust is bright red and glowing. I assumed that this is a timing issue, however When I put the crank pulley to TDC, the Distributor rotor points toward the TDC marking on the Distributor housing (cyl 1) and the cam markings are dead on. I am puzzled as to what is going on. I also have to add that there is a gray wire that goes to the diagnostics plug, whithin the gray shield there are three wires (apparently clip broke off sometime during the repair), and the only thing I can find that I have not connected to the car and that has 3 pins plugs is the crank angle sensor. Would this cause my troubles?

If not, what else could this be?