Egr delete questions

Good day, my question is about deleting the EGR. Die to unforseen circumstances, I had to throw a pair of vortec heads on my stock 5.7 EGR TBI. Also put an edelbrock performer intake, utalizing the stock TBI . I set timing at 0, but can't make any power, pops, spits, falls flat. One question, where to set timing? I do realize I'll have to chip it but what can be done until then? If anything. What plugs to use? AC Delco #? This all had to be done on a budget as well so no other mods were done. Thank you for any advice and knowledge.