I lined up the timing chain/gears and cylinder 1 myself after doing the work replacing crank and bearings and pump and had others with mechanical knowledge confirm before reassembly. There is no way the chain is off by a tooth. It was also checked for stretch when removed and does not seem to have any measurable stretch. Stock chain and gears.
Seems to me that the transmission shifts smooth as silk and has been about the only thing thus far NOT to give me any issues. No shuddering or problems shifting, though I havent actually counted the number of times it shifts. Smooth accelerating (also make me think not the TPS) Though it does kind of have that feel like starting in second gear from a stop. Not sure why it would be more prevalent when hot then though.
I was reading about the plugged cat issue recently as well, and it is a possibility, with it being such an old vehicle. Any good way for me to test that without fully removing it? The issue definitely worsened when the RV overheated some after a coolant line popped off just before I began repairs a couple months back. Perhaps it further damaged the cat? The oil pump was definitely shot too so oil circulation was not well before repairs. Now it is rock solid for oil. Definitely some things for me to consider and look into!
