Hey guys, im new to the board here but im a little stumped on whats going on with my truck. I dropped a 1987 tpi 350 from a firebird gta into my 1999 gmc sonoma, and got it running. For my own reasons i took the tpi intake off and installed an edelbrock performer intake and an edelbrock 600 cfm carburetor with a holly red 97 gph fuel pump. For lightin' it up i went to the local camaro wreckers and grabbed an older big hei distributor and stabbed it in. Im almost 100 percent sure my timing is correct. Had lots of practise in the last few months haha.... Anywho, still nothing. Its getting fuel and its getting spark and its timed properly imho. Any idea's? And yes my firing order is correct too.... Could i have gotten a bunk carb? The only other thing i noticed was that when cranking, my timing light seems to work intermittently. Could that mean a bad coil, hei module, corroded wiring... etc? It almost wants to start it sounds like but naw, haha. Anyways any help would be greatly appreciated!! i know its in a sonoma but i figured you guys would be able to help me out more haha.

 

This older distributor you stabbed in there - is it vacuum advanced?

This red holley fuel pump - what's the fuel pressure it's making? Do you have an in-tank pump it's trying to draw fuel through? Do you have a fuel pressure regulator inline? Is the truck a return style fuel system, and if so did you use a return-style fuel pressure regulator?

 

Hey thanks for the reply. Your first question, yes it is a vacuum advance hei. Not sure on the pressure its producing, the truck is plumbed with a return style setup, and no im not using a return style bypass regulator. Although i do own one. And yes the holly pump is drawing through the original in-tank pump, which from the forums ive scoured seems to be acceptable practise. Probably not i guess. the fpr i have is an aeromotive 3-60 psi universal bypass fuel pressure regulator. I also have a 0-15 psi fuel pressure guage so its all good. Ill have to get plumbing and get you an answer to your fuel pressure question.

 

Welcome aboard thirdgen.org.

Board rules dictate topics about 3rd gens only. I'll allow this as long as the discussion can be applied to 3rd gens.

It is only acceptable if the stock pump is operating. If you don't have the in-tank pump powered, you should remove it from the tank.

 

Past experiences here on TGO dictate that the external fuel pump you have won't last long trying to suck fuel through a non-perating in-tank pump.

You say you have a fuel pressure guage -I gues it's not plumbed in yet? You'll want under 7psi for the carb.

Dead-heading the fuel (not using a return-style regulator) usually results in pressure problems from what everyone here has experienced with a return style system - so you may want to swap to the return-style regulator (like a Mallory 4309) - thats what most of us are using.

Not sure what the intermittent timing light means - you double check all the ground straps from battery to motor to chassis?

 

regardless of the body it sits i think the thirdgen engine im talking about is applicable to any tpi to carb swap. Im really just here because no one probably knows this stuff better than you all. Just thought id be honest and tell you what im doing, because lets face it, its easy for anyone to pop on a forum and pretend they have a third gen camaro. But thats not how i roll, and i really thank you all for the help. Gonna overhaul my fuel system for sure and pull out my intank pump.... ugh. still dont understand why it wont roar to life even for a second even if i pour an ounce of fuel down the carb.... i almost think an intermittent spark (which is just broadcast by a timing light) is the issue. maybe im just biased to believe the only component i didnt buy new (distributor) might be to blame...

 

Did you buy the carb new?

I had the same problem almost.....never could get it to idle right, would not stay running, could not get it in time.....

Ended up being the rebuilt carb I bought....

I put a new Edelbrock on and it fired right up......

That ened almost 3 weeks of frustration.....

 

Hey guys, just a little update. Got it running perfectly. I changed the plugs because they were fouled up something fierce... Re-did the timing then and away it went. Never sounded better!!! Has way more snap with this carb and performer intake. It never ran properly with the tpi intake... hence the fouled up plugs. im sure it was something i over looked. if anyone needs a full tpi setup.... Thanks again for all your help!