I just can't seem to get my car running right after some top-end work. I've done this many times before, so I don't know what the heck my problem is, lol!

I have brought it up to TDC on the number one, set the distributor in with the rotor roughly pointing to the number one. Routed the wires in the correct firing order. And disconnected the wire. When I start it up, it won't idle too well. Give it a little blip on the throttle and it backfires through the intake. Here's my major problem. I can't read the timing on the balancer, and the timing pointer is covering up the marks. If it backfires, that would have to mean a valve is open at the wrong time? Also, it sounds like it is not firing on all 8. I checked the ignition cables and all plugs are getting juice. Very hard to start, must crank for w while. I know this is a simple problem, I must be burned out or something. Any help, guys?!?

THANKS!!

------------------
Jerry

-------------------------
89 RS Lt Blue T-Tops T5
355 Crate, Compucam 2040
Pst Front Hotchkis Rear
Edle. TES 3" Flowmaster
Harwood hood, bla, bla, bla...
94 Z28, LT1 6M, Black
Most of the bolt-ons
-------------------------

 

what kind of top end work did you do..heads, rocker arms, intake ect? I had mine pointing at the #1 cylinder but it was still slightly off, we raised it back up and put it back in at a different position and it was much better but was still pretty close to pointing towards the number 1 cylinder.

I still had major idle problems like the timing was off so I plugged my EGR valve and it cleared right up. Check real closely for vacumn leaks but I would try and find that timing mark on the balancer. Have you tried turning the distributer both ways really far and see if it clears up at all, if not then the timing is probably really bad off still. How are you getting the engine to TDC? We jus tpulled the #1 plug and had one person put their finger over the plug hole while another bump the engine over until the piston came to TDC which also blew air out the hole at the same time. There are other ways but this was pretty quick and accurate for us. The rotor cap should then be pointing at the #1 cylinder as you stated.

The valves could cause it also if you messed with the heads. Not for sure what to tell you to check as far as the valves go other than make sure they are not too tight. Maybe someone else can help you in this area.

------------------
1988 TA 300+hp 350 w/ TBI and Holley TB unit, Holley projection intake,
WC T-5, 3.42 gears w/ Auburn posi. MSD 6A, edelbrock TES headers, dynomax 3" cat and cat-back system, ACCEL coil, polyurethane bushings all around, aluminum driveshaft, Mr. Gasket open air cleaner.

1993 S-10 w/ 4.3L V6 TBI, slightly bigger cam, Mild polish job and 3 angle valve job on heads, Edlebrock TES headers, Dynomax cat back, MSD 6A, ADS chip

2000 Kawasaki KX 125

 

sounds to me like your timing is off you need to set it c orrectly

 

Thanks, you both made me take a closer look at the timing. Sure enough, I had it lined up to the wrong mark on the balancer. I feel stupid. Now, it starts and idles just great. But........

Maiden voyage, it ran like crap. Just as soon as it gets under load, it does this school bus shudder thing and falls flat on its face, only to pick up if I let up on the throttle alot. It revs fine at idle. what would cause this? It's like it can't get out of it's own way. Right now, I have stock (ultimate) tbi, I was having problems with the Holley, 300-64 carb manifold, blocked egr, open element, etc. The rest should be the same as whats in my sig. Any advice??????? I am moving in two days and would like to drive it under it's own power, lol!

Jerry

------------------
Jerry

-------------------------
89 RS Lt Blue T-Tops T5
355 Crate, Compucam 2040
Pst Front Hotchkis Rear
Edle. TES 3" Flowmaster
Harwood hood, bla, bla, bla...
94 Z28, LT1 6M, Black
Most of the bolt-ons
-------------------------

 

stock chip?

 

Stockish.... It's the old ADS superchip I bought many years back with the old 305. I know I need some tuning. The car has ran a best of 14.1@101mph. It's got ALOT more in it, but I have not had much time or money. I bought a fourth gen and it's got an I.V. line running striaght to my wallet. Now that it is done, I wanted to sort out the problems on the 89. Do you think it's the program? I don't have access to a chip burer, and I know those mail order chips are crap. Whats your advice? It ticks me off to hear of your 305 killing my 355. But I know the real power is knowledge, and I'm lacking a little at this point.

------------------
Jerry

-------------------------
89 RS Lt Blue T-Tops T5
355 Crate, Compucam 2040
Pst Front Hotchkis Rear
Edle. TES 3" Flowmaster
Harwood hood, bla, bla, bla...
94 Z28, LT1 6M, Black
Most of the bolt-ons
-------------------------

[This message has been edited by 89RS355 (edited October 27, 2000).]

 

TTT

 

heh
well i dont have any timeslips yet, but it is running pretty good if i do say so myself

try advancing the timing some more in the mean time
i remember with the stock chip i had to advance the timing a rediculous amount so it wouldnt do the "schoolbus shudder"

writing your own chips isnt all that mysterious you can do it trust me, maybe check out the article trax wrote on it in the tech section just to get an idea of what its about.

Your setup isnt much different from mine cept you have alot more CI (that is if i remember the 2040 specs correctly)
which injectors are you running?

 

I'm running stock injectors on this setup. I just can't seem to get this thing dialed in. I have the timing at 10 and it does run a little better. I was able to drive to a close friends house and park it till the weekend. Still the school bus thing. I just does not scoot at all above half throttle, like it wants to lay down and die. Whatcha thinkin'?

------------------
Jerry

-------------------------
89 RS Lt Blue T-Tops T5
355 Crate, Compucam 2040
Pst Front Hotchkis Rear
Edle. TES 3" Flowmaster
Harwood hood, bla, bla, bla...
94 Z28, LT1 6M, Black
Most of the bolt-ons
-------------------------

 

maybe the distributer is 180° off?

 

this sounds a lot like the problem i had when i did my intake and stuff. the car could just be leaning out on ya.
i solved it with a set of 350 injectors from an old caprice.

lata
tim

------------------
91 Camaro RS-LO3,Auto.
14.390 @ 94.99mph
Edlebrock TES Headers, Cat Eliminator Pipe, Borla Adjustable Cat Back,Marche Pulleys, HyperTech Chip,Transgo Shift Kit,B&M Convertor(2000stall), 36mm Front 25mm Rear Sway Bars, Eibach Pro Kit Springs, Bilstein Shocks and Struts, Steve Spohn Rear Rig( all rod ends), Poly Front Bushings, Baer Track Kit Front Brakes W/ Baer Disc Rears, 17x9 4th Gen SS Wheels, Ported TB, Edlebrock Performer TBI Intake, Performer Heads, 1.6 Roller Tipped Rockers

 

No, the ditributor isn't 180 off!! I've done that screw up before, and I never try to repeat screw-ups, lol. It's still runs like *** . Alot better when I turned up the fuel pressure some, but still does not feel like it used to. I swear, I'm ashamed to drive it up the street. A ford escort or something might have me for lunch and I'll give everyone here a bad name.
Seriously, I don't know. I'll go to the bone yard and grab a couple caprice injectors and check it out, but it sure looks like alot of fuel coming out of 'em. I need to read the O2 sensor to see for sure. This thing idles great, revs great, but try to drive it and it bucks like a virgen on prom night. It's like driveing the mystery machine, I keep looking for shaggy and scooby to appear in my back seat. Any other thoughts? I am over my head on this one, and that bothers me. All the crap I have done to cars, and this thing stumps me at the moment. I feel like a newbie here, lol. Thanks!


------------------
Jerry

-------------------------
89 RS Lt Blue T-Tops T5
355 Crate, Compucam 2040
Pst Front Hotchkis Rear
Edle. TES 3" Flowmaster
Harwood hood, bla, bla, bla...
94 Z28, LT1 6M, Black
Most of the bolt-ons
-------------------------

 

how long have you had the motor in your car with those 305 injectors? With a 355 you need to go up to a 350 injector...go to the local junk yard and buy some cheap but make sure they work. You have to be starving our car for fuel in the upper rpms with the 305 injectors even if the pressure is turned up slightly. What is the pressure set at anyways? There is no way a 305 injector would work on my motor so I don't see how it could on yours. A bigger TB is a must also. You are probably choking the motor with the stock 400cfm TB. I have had no probs with the Holley other than injector wires loosing their connecttions but that was fixed in about 2 seconds. You have the manifold but not the correct TB to match the manifold and the motor. This may not be all of your problem but I'm willing to bet it has a lot to do with it falling on it's face.

How old is the distrib and coil? If the dist. is set right then you may want to look at having the car put on a scan machine to see how well the dist./coil/pickup module and ignition system is performing.

------------------
1988 TA 300+hp 350 w/ TBI and Holley TB unit, Holley projection intake,
WC T-5, 3.42 gears w/ Auburn posi. MSD 6A, edelbrock TES headers, dynomax 3" cat and cat-back system, ACCEL coil, polyurethane bushings all around, aluminum driveshaft, Mr. Gasket open air cleaner.

1993 S-10 w/ 4.3L V6 TBI, slightly bigger cam, Mild polish job and 3 angle valve job on heads, Edlebrock TES headers, Dynomax cat back, MSD 6A, ADS chip

2000 Kawasaki KX 125

 

Just flipping through the boards, but could the balancer be falling apart, and the timing mark has moved a few degrees?


------------------
-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

 

if you turned up the fuel pressure and it got a bit better you just nailed the problem. put in some 350 injectors and it work. don't forget to turn the afpr back down a bit.(don't mean to sound dumb but i forgot on mine)

lata
tim

------------------
91 Camaro RS-LO3,Auto.
14.390 @ 94.99mph
Edlebrock TES Headers, Cat Eliminator Pipe, Borla Adjustable Cat Back,Marche Pulleys, HyperTech Chip,Transgo Shift Kit,B&M Convertor(2000stall), 36mm Front 25mm Rear Sway Bars, Eibach Pro Kit Springs, Bilstein Shocks and Struts, Steve Spohn Rear Rig( all rod ends), Poly Front Bushings, Baer Track Kit Front Brakes W/ Baer Disc Rears, 17x9 4th Gen SS Wheels, Ported TB, Edlebrock Performer TBI Intake, Performer Heads, 1.6 Roller Tipped Rockers

 

Thanks for the help, guys. I am off to the bone yard to grab some injectors on Saturday and give them a try. BabdBird, I had toubles with the holley injectors, one of them crapped out on me. While I had the old TBI still around, I did the ultimate tbi stuff and sold my holley to a buddy. Your not gonna believe this, but I ran the STOCK TBI and the STOCK intake on this motor for nine months!!!
I had ordered the crate motor and planned to switch to TPI. The crate motor came in about two months later, and my friends and I installed it for ****s and giggles with the stock intake and injection. After one test drive, my TPI money went into suspension, as all it would do is spin the tires. Then came along a sweet deal on my 94 Z28. So, my TPI money went to that douwn payment. Then, of course, I got involved with that car, and never had the money to play with ths one. I did take it to the drag strip, and ran a 14.8, but I forgot the mph. I don't believe it either. The motor ran strong, but I knew I needed to the the fuel system fixed up. After cruising this board, I found that TBI is really a viable option for performance, and cheap as hell to. Just a little learning curve for me. I'll let you guys know how it worked out, and you can cut another notch in the bedpost.

------------------
Jerry

-------------------------
89 RS Lt Blue T-Tops T5
355 Crate, Compucam 2040
Pst Front Hotchkis Rear
Edle. TES 3" Flowmaster
Harwood hood, bla, bla, bla...
94 Z28, LT1 6M, Black
Most of the bolt-ons
-------------------------

 

Sure I do, I ran the stock intake on my car for 4 years , talk about losing hp! Now that I think about it a 305 injector turned up high may work on a 350 but at the same time with the stock intake you were already choking the motor for air so the extra fuel would have be useless or too much without the new intake. Just a thought.

Let me know if you ever discover what was causing the problem and Good luck!

 

Have you checked to see if your TPS was working right? My car is doing the EXACT same thing yours is and giving me a code 44 for lean exhaust. Difference is, mine's all stock (read sig.)... I've changed the O2 sensor, cat, fuel filter, cap, rotor, plugs, and wires and set the timing to 1* advance but still have problems. I don't have much free time on my hands so I haven't tested the TPS so its going to the dealer tomorrow to get the final lowdown (its been about 4 MONTHS running like this-I hope I haven't screwed anything else up in the meantime). Good luck to ya...

------------------
'91 Firebird
305/TBI/700R4/T-tops
Mods: Catco high flow cat - B&M Shift kit - Taylor 8mm Spiro-Pro's - ACDelco Rapidfire Plugs - K&N Air Filter - Trans Am tail light conversion
Stereo: Pioneer DEH-P8200R - Pioneer 6x9's - Kenwood 8" Tube
'91 Pics

'87 Firebird
2.8L/MPFI/700R4/220K Miles on its original, never been rebuilt engine!
Car being parted and sold, just ask what I have.
'87 Pics

 

Ha, I'm back. Man I looked through every junkyard around here and can't find any 350 tbi infectors, from a caprice or a truck. Well, I am up for giving another Holley unit a try, but not the 4bbl this time. What 2bbl (670) part number are you guys buying? Man, this thing runs like a turd. I have to drive in the dark, when no ones looking. I think my manhood shrinks everytime I drive it also. The wife has been noticing it under the coveres, lol! Any help would be appreciated. Also, where should I go to have a chip burnt. I don't have the ability to burn one mself, and only one local dyno that I know of, and it is a Ford only shop. Any thoughts?

------------------
Jerry

-------------------------
89 RS Lt Blue T-Tops T5
355 Crate, Compucam 2040
Pst Front Hotchkis Rear
Edle. TES 3" Flowmaster
Harwood hood, bla, bla, bla...
94 Z28, LT1 6M, Black
Most of the bolt-ons
-------------------------