I have had my timing set at 8* advanced for a while and have not had problems... until now.

The car all of a sudden backfired (lost power big time) when I floored it. I floored it again, and it jumped up and ran normally after that. Slowly the backfires became more frequent, until I decided to play with my timing a bit. I felt the distributer cap, and it was loose. I set the timing back at 8*, tightened the bolt and it drove better, then the problems started again. I then moved the timing to the mark left of the 8* mark, which I believe is 4* advanced, and the car felt better than with the 8* advance, but it is still having this problem time to time. I have tried a fuel injector cleaner, I have backed off a little on my fuel pressure after looking at my plugs, I do not know what to try next...

It really varies now in force. Sometimes it will do a big one, others it will drive normally, others it will backfire slightly while accelerating hard. It usually only does this at WOT, or close to it. Not going WOT is not an option

EDIT: I know it is a backfire because I can see smoke coming out of the aircleaner in the cowl...

Thanks for any responses (reasonable responses )

Clint

 

A friend of mine and I hooked his laptop up, and it read lots of knocks, with most gained at WOT. Could this be the LT1 cam? Will an LT4 Knock Module work on my car?

I also got a "Prom error" and "Cal Pack missing"... I am not running the stock chip, but a stock chip - EGR - speed limiter.

 

are you adjusting the timing with the CTS disconnected? sure the timing chain is in good shape? for some reason it sounds like the timing is jumping around on ya

 

I went ahead and replaced the timing set last night, and looked at my timing. I had it set at 12* instead of the 4* I thought I had it at. I no longer have the backfiring problem, and my car is a lot smoother and a bit more powerful. :hail: Today I am going to change the oil in it, and in the Silver Slug (my 89 escort beater), then hook the laptop up to it, and advance/retard till I get 0 knocks. I am going back to the track Friday, so hopefully I'll have some new times. Thanks for the advice TBI305Camaro.