I need Help! from the big block Chevy forum gods... PLEASE!!!!

[stuff2c]

I come here with my hat in my hand....
My first post unfortunately is a HELP post. this is my first big block and here's the history.
My bride talked me into a motor home after years of tent camping on a motorcycle
the first trip went well... its a 93 with 53k on it 454 tbi. it had an intermittent backfire in the intake under heavy load, mostly ran fine.
on the way home after 1700 mile trip the pop became more frequent. I drove it for a couple weeks back and forth to work (7miles) the pop became worse and would happen under any acceleration other than a feather foot.
i ordered a fuel filter, dist cap and rotor and installed them. drove it another day and parked it. 2 days later NO START! Turns over and will not start.
it did throw a code 54 (using the short A&B and count the service engine light method)
this says 54: fuel pump circuit ; EGR fault

what i have done since then:
new plugs
new wires
checked timing
i have fire to every plug
when you turn the motor over the injectors pulse gas

I'm a definate novice machanic but follow directions well.

Anything else i can check? it turns over has gas and spark?

[chevybuilder]

I am no expert either but maybe do a compression test. Might have a burnt valve.

[stuff2c]

if it had a bad valve wouldn't it run, just really bad?

[chevybuilder]

You have tried everything I would have first sounds like. The backfire in the intake seems to me it could be only a few things. Timing error, which might mean the timing chain slipped which would be seen in a compression test in all cylinders, or a burnt valve which would be seen in one cylinder. Timing error would cause it not to run.

[stuff2c]

a friend told me that several years has a plastic timing gear?

I did check the timing and it has a 5deg counting the little marks advance and steady with no jumping around using plug #1 and just using the starter to turn the engine over

[stuff2c]

compression test.... should have done that when i changed the plugs! Geeez!

[chevybuilder]

I do not have enough experience with what had plastic gears or not. I do know plastic gears were used in some models. You might try to identify TDC and look at the timing marks. If it has in fact slipped I wouldn't turn the engine over very much with the starter. Might bend a valve depending on how much it might have slipped.

[chevybuilder]

I keep thinking while typing. I'm somewhat of a rookie also.

[stuff2c]

i'll try that TDC when i pull the plugs for the compression test... thanks!

i live dwntwn orlando and was taking it to a friends to keep it there, now i have this 31' monster in my driveway

[1gary]

Follow your codes.Do a fuel pressure test.Normal maintenance should include a fuel filter change,so to replace that now wouldn't hurt.Replace fuel pumps with Delco only brand name.If you find the fuel pump defective and you replace it,remove the hot lead on the battery and clear the codes.Might find the no start is related to that and the backfire is something else,but you have to diagnose the no start first.

[cffisher]

I'd guess its the fuel pump, which could have gone bad from a dirty fuel filter.

[stuff2c]

Well, first thanks for the replys!
I went back and checked top dead center and shazam! I was off on my #1 plug wire on the dist cap...DUH!
I now know i have great compression, new plugs, wires, fuel filter, a funtioniing EGR, good fuel pump and now a 454 that runs as it should.
once again thanks for the suggestions!