I have a 91 RS 305 tbi with a T-5 5speed. First ill go into whats been done then the symptoms.

Brand new remanned 305 all new sensors and ignitions controls (distrub, spark plugs, advance spark controller, etc... all new)
The motor itself is has only roughly 9,000 miles on it now. When we did the motor replacement we replaced the clutch but not the fly wheel as it was within specs and had it resurfaced to save some money.

The vehicle has been in arizona its whole life until recently when i moved to virginia, had 0 problems in arizona.

After the long drive from arizona to virginia i released that I had a crack in my PCV line going from the throttle body to the PCV valve itself.(replaced) and cured the stalling in take off.

so now these are the symptoms i am having:
1) In 1st, 2nd, 3rd I get a viberations (even shudder) when engaging the clutch from a stand still to get moving. Does it when i down shift too. I beleve this to be a throw out bearing as it squeeks like a cricket while engaged in driving.

2) while "putting" down a street (in 1st or 2nd just idling "putting) to maintain a low rate of speed down a residential avenue, the car will violent jerk, as if the someone is slamming on the brakes and releasing.
(not sure but i contribute this to some sort of engine malfunction)

3) while at idle cold or warm i have a light knock. Its not real loud but you can hear it with the hood shut, its not in the valves or in the bottom of the motor but from the front. I have had some say it could be a pulley or the harmonic balancer starting to come apart (the harmonic balancer does have a slight wobble when observing at idle), possibly even the timing chain.

4) I cant get this a#$hole timed, I have tried multiple times but it keeps coming untimed, and eventually i get a pre ignition knock when lugging in lower gears. I believe this to support #3 harmonic balance, if it is bad the timing sleeve could be moving causing a hell of a time to time.

5) slight miss at lower rpm at idle, but clears up after 1500 rpm, spuratic as well. seems not to miss as much when at operating temps 180-220 (thinking might be the whole PROM unit itself, possible causing the timing issue and the missfire?

If any of you could possible lend some insight

 

Are you serious, 49 views and not one response...whats the matter guys/gals, stumped?

 

I have the same issues with my 1991 RS 5.0 TBI 5 Speed.
I when I turn on the A/C it runs great.
Did you ever solve this issue ?

 

Wish I could say...Sounds like you have some motor issues. If you hear a knock....a true knock, your bearings are done for, and you need to utilize that warranty you got on that motor.

It is also possible that whoever built the motor did not set the timing correctly on the chain, which would be the reason for poor engine performance and your inability to get it timed correctly. Also....not trying to test your intelligence, but make sure your distributor is very tight so it doesn't move.

 

Lol no insult taken, and that was one of the first things i checked. Its tight, and not shifting, i even put a paint line on the distrib to the motor to see if there was any shifting. I took it to a mechanic shop and their head mechanic said that the knocking sound is comming from the gas they have here in virginia, that these older motors are not meant to be ran on ethanol fuel. He says theres nothing to worry about, and nothing is wrong with the motor, and that he believes the misfire and possible shudder could also be because of fuel. I put premium and a bottle of octane boost in the car and it idles and runs 100000x better. still have a jerking and suddering at take off, but i contribute that to the fly wheel and possible ujoints going out, ill put it up on the rack this weekend