I bought a 1984 Trans Am that I was told had carb problems. Found out that it had major engine problems. After taking it apart it the timing gear was wasted, so I had the entire thing rebuilt with a mild cam installed. While it was out decided to do the transmission too, good thing, it too was completely messed up and missing parts with chunks of metal in it.

Now, after new Eldebrock intake and carb, headers and y pipe, alternator, water pump, fuel pump, steering pump and an empty wallet, the car will still not run right. I can get it to idle decent and rev up, but the second I put it into gear it bogs down and will not go. I did drive around the block once and it shifted into second gear, but with it floored it never goes any faster and acts like it can barely move (probably did 20 mph top end).

My thoughts are the computer, which I disconnected completely with no better luck. My other thoughts are the distributor.

My hopes are that someone else out there has done the carb swap or other engine mods and ran into this problem and figured it out. Is having the computer controlled distributor the problem or should disconnecting the computer eliminate that? Any help or ideas would be appreciated. I have a lot of body work and interior work to do but want to get it running right first!

 

if you are still using the cc distributor, you are stuck with no timing control. You need a vacuum advance type dist. If you are already using a vac adv type, you will need to go back and check first that your timing is correct and then work from there.

 

I believe it is the original distributor. The person that had it before me attempted to make changes but just did it enough to screw everything up. I am ordering a non controlled distributor and going to attempt it next week. I really hope this is the problem. I am dying to drive the car and I need to redeem myself after dumping so much money into it.

Just in case you might know, do you know where the fan relay is located on the 84 Trans Am? My fan only turns on if I put on the AC. It never kicks on by itself.

 

Just an update to this. I bought a non computer controlled distributor off of eBay and put it in today. The car will start now and idle but I have yet to get a proper timing. I drove it down to the gas station (gas only $3.99 a gallon!) and put $25 bucks in it. If I attempted to give it too much gas I get a pinging noise and some backfire through the carb. I cannot seem to get it timed correctly. I got it around 10 and it it will not run once you put it in gear. If I go higher I can get it run it gear but get backfire through the carb and pinging sounds. How can I get this right? I am going to start stripping out the unneeded wiring from the computer and other wires (the whole this is a mess from people attempting to get it to run and from sitting (from what it looks like) years.

Any info on what I need to do to make this run right please let me know. I have new everything on it: distributors, intake, carb (eldlebrock) headers, all on a fresh rebuild with a mild cam.

 

this may sound stupid but check your wires and make sure they are in order 18436572 i did this on accident once just thought it would help