Where in PA are you?

I would do some preventative measures before getting into timing and more fuel/boost ... Just begging to poo the HG and cause you real issues .... After the studs, I would upgrade ur turbo to something like an S300 ..62/65/14 makes a great tow turbo and spools nice ... No surge, and its a easy replacement .... Major increased fuel economy and flow to cool the EGT'S... :tu:

if you fuel pressure is good then it could be the timing, I would think that more load you put on it it would be worse but since you said it cleared up going down the road sounds like timing my brothers was the same way. if it has never been messed with and it turned up it probably has slipped some cause the nut isn't torque to enough from the factory

I would also recommend you have the killer dowel pin dealt with before you do anything else first. unless it's already done.
Then gauges if you don't have that.

Yeah gauges can save ya bundle .... The unknows can be a real killer ...:td: