kill 2 birds with 1 tune up

so my truck is soooo hard to adust timing, and some time it runs rough- then with no changes it runs good???? also i would live to rip all of the emissions crap off the motor.... what can i get away with removing and stripping off the motor/ i'm thinking it might wind up making it run better too::: look better with all that crap off... AND run better with all that crap off... what cha think?