I just did a motor swap in my 84 camaro. I got it tuned and running pretty well. The other day it died while it was running. I tested the alternator and battery and they are both good. I am showing 4 gallons of gas, so i know it's not that. It has been running for over 3 weeks now, so I am pretty sure it's not a mistake I made on the swap...maybe so. I could use some advice...thanks.

 

welcome to the board.....alittle more info would be helpful..does it turn over now or is it dead at the starter...what kind of induction ,Ignition? CHeck for spark? fule pump mech. or electric?

 

Oops missed the sig......1984 Camaro
350 bored 60 over, vortec L31 heads, 202/190 valves, air gap edlbrock intake, holly 750 carb, magnum roller rockers, forged wedge pistons/rods, Hedmen long tube headers, 3500 RPM Hughes Torque converter, 700 R4 rebuilt, 4.10 12 bolt rear.

the previous ??? still apply

Also if you got everything right on the first time out..:hail:
Ive been tuning mine for 9 months now

 

I have MSD ignition with the original starter (for now). I work a lot and haven't checked to see if I am getting a spark, but I thought about it, and maybe I need to adjust the distributor. I've had problems with it before. It turns over pretty fast at first, then it starts to slow down to dying after a few seconds. I am pretty sure my battery and alternator are good. Alternator is less than 4 months old. I might try it while getting a jump. This is my first motor swap, and i was happy it was running at first. I appreciate all the further help. Also...I need to know where to get a good 4 core radiator. I checked online, but can't find any. Thank you.

 

Since you have a simple setup. Check for fire and fuel if that doesn't do it then perhaps the distributor as not secure and the timing has slipped enough for it to be out of time.

 

My distributor did slip out of timing. I adjusted it, and it started right up, then died because it was cold. After trying to restart it, it didn't turn over...only clicked. I've had problems with my battery and cables in the past, and since I think the starter isn't getting any juice, I am gonna replace the battery and cables tommorrow. My only question is, why did my car die while it was running? the timing?

 

Everthing is running mine and dandy...for now

 

i know the feeling, getting something running and running great, then it dies the next day from something stupid. goes kinda like that tom petty song "it's good to be king, even if it's just for a little while......"

 

lol yup...I just hope everything stays this way. I want to get my 1500 miles on it and the tranny so I can take it to the track and see what she runs.

 

Did you check the ground wire connections to the battery? I know on my '91 RS it was clicking when I turned the key and it took a few times to get it to run, and tightened the ground wire and it fixed it, and no problems since. It runs smoother too, maybe because it is getting more spark from a cleaner connection. You know, sometimes they just get knocked loose...especially if you were putting in an engine...

 

You know, I thought it was the same problem too. When I swapped engines, and tried to start it up, it wasn't propery grounded, and fried my ground a little bit. So I decided to replace it. I've had problems ever since. I am pretty sure it is my ground (cause if not, it's bad solenoids in my starter) so I am gonna keep trying to mess with it. The problem is, the part of the ground that goes to the car body itself isn't secured too well. The wire barely makes a connection. I think once I fix that, everything will be gravy