jonriver

Searched and couldnt find anything to help my problem here. I just installed new SLP runners on my 86 tpi T/A. Car ran fine before the swap but after I got it all on and tried to start it up, it barely turned over, smoked a little bit around the engine on the driver side and it would immediatly stall out. I am 99% sure i have all the vacume lines back in and in the right place and everything else is plugged in. Also i disconnected the MAF in an attemp to at least get it idling- which it did but was a VERY rough idle and some times if i try to rev it a little bit it would sound like it was backfiring almost. I checked for any vac leaks cuz it sounds like there's a hissing from the driver side but i could not find anything. Just wondering if anyone else had the same problem? or any other ideas or thing i could check?? thanks in advance!

Orr89RocZ

iTrader: (20)

sounds like vacuum problem with the runner gaskets. make sure you have good sealing around the runner tubes. Try it again and see how it goes

92 Z-28 Camaro

Hi
Did not have the problem but I would check for a vacuum leak - that is what it sounds like from the hissing sound. I was told once that if you mix trans fluid and alcohol – spray onto the intake and look for blue smoke out the exhaust. If you only took off the runner with the top plenum the problem can be isolated to the installation. Does the engine idle fast now – if so it more than likely a vacuum problem.
Thanks
Bill

jonriver

thanks for the replies so fast! I did redo the gaskets twice now cuz of the hissing the first time too. and no it idles really low and will jump up and down when the MAF is disconnected. um kinda dumb question but could it be an idle problem and the hissing just be from how much more air flow there is thru the runners?

92 Z-28 Camaro

The runner will not make a hissing sound - if a vacuum leak yes. The fact it is idling low or normal does not make sense if you have a vacuum leak. Your statement "Also i disconnected the MAF in an attemp to at least get it idling- which it did but was a VERY rough idle and some times if i try to rev it a little bit it would sound like it was backfiring almost." replacing the runners would not cause that. Did you pull the distributor or disconnect plug wires? I have to believe now you did not hook something up correctly. Recheck vacuum lines and electrial connections to make sure they are correctly connected.
thanks
Bill

AaronIROCZ

iTrader: (5)

Check these posts out,

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/post...78-post20.html

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/post...03-post26.html

what year tpi are those runners for??? There is a difference from the maf and map systems.

jwscab

If you have the right runners, then it is most likely a leak at the runners, even though you've tried replacing them twice.

I had an issue (thought I was using a vortec lower manifold), that necessitated grinding the runners in a few spots, because the edge of the runner caught material on the lower manifold, and would not allow the runner to set flush. The material is only slightly thicker than the gasket, so it's very hard to tell, it looks like the gasket is sealed, but the aluminum is holding the runner back just enough to allow a leak.

I believe it was on the drivers side, near the pcv port/cold start injector, there is a bunch of crap there and it's hard to see.

man, I've mentioned this a couple times now, I really wish I snapped some pics. I was more frustrated than anything, so i wanted to get the car running more than thinking about a tech article.

jonriver

They are the right year runners ('85-'88, i have an 86). I did pull one of the plug wires off but since it was only one....im pretty sure its back in the right place heh. I am going to try another gasket once more and really check that it is getting flush. And sorry for the confusion on the MAF thing. It will not idle with the MAF connected it will start but IMMEDIATLY stall out. When i disconnect it, it will idle at like 2200rpm- but still hisses. So im really thinking its a vac leak i need to find? I'll take it apart again tomorrow and get back on here when i find out what happens. Again thanks for the input!

b4ccamaro

I had the same prob with mine. The set of runners I got had that hiss and a bad idle. It was the runners not sealing against the plenum. Make sure that the runners dont have the 5th small tube for egr open at the plemun. there were 3 diff plenums made for our cars. so they make the runners more universal and it was really hard to pinpoint the leak.

Calderone

let us know the outcome !
hope everything works ok for you !

92 Z-28 Camaro

Hi
One word of advice - if you pull the runners again, compare them to the original runners to make sure they are identical. Go on a Kitchen counter or a very good flat surface, lay the runners on the surface that mounts to bottom plenum and see if the upper surface are parallel before reinstalling. You need will somebody to hold the two runners flat while you check the upper surfaces for parallelism.
Thanks
Bill

PS: My wife get upset if I do anything in the kitchen J

jonriver

Alright so heres what I got. Instead of taking them back off right away, I double checked the cold start injector because I remembered taking it off I had to kind of wiggle it out (im assuming to get the o-ring out of what it was sealing?) so when I put it back in I made sure it was in there really snug before I put the bolt thru it- and that took care of the hissing! So I thought, cool its fixed. So I started it up and went to take it for a ride and it felt like it lost A LOT of power. I could not even spin the tires from a stop. And in my subdivision going like 15mph if I floored it, it felt like it would not even drop down to 1st to speed up fast. Could this still be a vaccum leak just not as big? Or could anything else had been bumped or disconnected that could be stealing my power?
thanks!

pandin

Disconnect the battery and then let the ECM relearn again. Should be "normal" after about 30 min of driving around town, if not you have other troubles.

jwscab

check the timing, it's possible the distributor was bumped, and if you pulled spark plug wires, make sure you don't have 2 crossed. If they are adjacent cylinders, it will idle OK, but lose power.

jonriver

Alright so I tried the disconnecting the battery for a minute and then driving around for 30+ mins and nothing so its something else. I will try to check the timing and does anyone know like which wires from the dizzy go to what cylinders? I just want to double check that all the plug wires are in the right spots because the more I think about this problem the more im second guessing myself :/
thanks!

b4ccamaro

It also could be your timing. What do you have is set to? it should be at 6 degrees with the esc disconnected.

jwscab

well, hopefully, you marked which cylinder was number one on the distributor, If not, you may be totally off one post, which will severely retard or advance the timing.

the firing order, looking down at the cap, clockwise, is 18436572. number one is dependant on where you aligned the distributor rotor tip to top dead center of cylinder 1. typically, if you haven't touched the distributor and it's still factory, number one cylinder should be at roughly 5 o' clock position looking down at the distributor from the front of the engine, ie, leaning over the engine block, with the firewall facing you.

it's best to put a timing light on it and check to see what it is. check with the est wire disconnected. should be somewhere in line with the 4 wire distrbutor connector.

jonriver

Alright so before I started to check the timing I was once again just checking everything over to make sure I STILL wasnt missing anything....AND I noticed one of my fuel injector connectors on the driver side looked a little bit higher off of the actual injector so i tried wiggling it on some more and SNAP, it clicks in heh. What had happen I think when I tried putting it on the last time, I heard a click and thought it was all the way in and when I tugged on it a bit, it would hit part of the runner and not pull out so I, not noticing, thought it was in. I guess thats what I get for working on it until 4 in the morning heh. So took it for another ride after that and it feels strong and just like it used to, if not better. So, so far everything is working just fine again. And now that I know more about this timing stuff I think ill take a look at that and see if its where it needs to be. Thanks for all the help!! Im so relieved this frustrating problem is over heh.