Hey guys, i hate to post again, but my car is still bugging me.

when it was running really bad, it shot my three engine codes. like a 23 33 44, as i recall. i finally disconnected the battery, and after i
reconnected it, the cars check engine light hasn't come on again sense! even though its still running poorly

here is the sum of my problems i know about.

1. car running poorly, odd power band throughout the RPMs. (rpms seem to drop sometimes as i accelerate)

2. Hole in the y-pipe (accident, its far from the o2 sensor, but i don't know if it is causing problems or not)

3. timing seems to be off. this seems to be a problem with my harmonic dampner. looked forever for timing marks on it, and finally noticed that
its shroud covering has broken off. it seems to wobble a bit when i run the car. after i checked the timing, (advanced it until it sounded good)
it worked fine for 2 weeks, but sounded awful again quickly, and ran just as poor. haven't checked the timing again sense.

4. Odd popping noise coming from engine. this is the strangest problem i have, when i gas the car, and let off the petal, it makes a sound like
popcorn popping in a plastic bag. i actually want all around just to see if it WAS a plastic bag. it wasn't.

5. backfires when i floor it, or when i gas it, and quickly let off the gas petal.

6. related to 4 and 5 i think, when i drive, every time i let off the gas petal, the engine suddenly like changes pitch. it sounds like its sucking in
air wrong almost, really odd sound.

Anyway, so as of right now, i am putting priority on getting my y-pipe replaced, and also getting a harmonic dampner and timing gear/chain set
installed.

not sure if it will "cure" all of my problems. i intend on doing it anyway, but just wanted to see if anyone out there has any opinion on my weird
running car.

best i can figure is, maybe the y-pipe hole is making some of the noises, and clogging the exhaust somewhat. i also think maybe because of the
harmonic dampners condition, it might have stretched the timing chain, which is causing its poor sounding condition. when i advanced the timing,
the car sounded much better. it had more power, and didn't make that popping noise from the engine. although it still made an odd noise when i
let off the gas petal.

as of now, those are the only two things i can think of that could be my problem. maybe its the ECU too, just surprised it threw me like 3
codes forever, then after i disconnected the battery, the check engine light hasn't come on again, haven't bothered to short it again because of
that.

well, that was fun, im sure i've confused even the beefiest of techs here. thanks for the read! any imput at all is greatly appreciated!!

 

monkies! forgot to post info on my car! lol.
ok, its a 1986 IROC Camaro, 305 TPI "LB9".

got single exhaust stock 3" from y-pipe to muffler

 

Christos,

Fix/replace the 'Y' pipe. That probably accounts for or at least affects #s 4, 5, & 6.

It may also be diluting the exhaust gas enough to throw the O2 sensor a bit.

Verify the position of the timing ring on the balancer. If when you said "its shroud covering has broken off" you mean the outer ring is missing, you need to replace the damper before you do engine damage. The ring is what kills crankshaft harmonics, and you can snap a crank without one.

Get a new or good used damper. Clean it and clearly mark the timing line, then set you timing.

Check back, and I'm guesing that your "problem" list is much shorter (like non-existent).

------------------
Later,
Vader
------------------
"Make Me Bad..."
Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.0
KaleCo Auto Parts

 

Thanks for answering when no one else wants to anymore Vader! good to know you are still out there.

Great, i really hope thoes are my only two problems. I am waiting on thirdgenparts.com to get back to me on that y-pipe and balancer. just wanted to check to see if anyone had any other ideas, or even bad news like "sounds like your heads are trash" or something.

Thanks!

 

I second Vader here... I know from personal experience how an exhaust leak can ruin any kind of performance.... I don't know much about that harmonic balancer stuff, but I had about a 3/8" hole in one of my AIR tubes once... made the car run like a DOG just from that one little hole. Imagine how much that hole in the Y-pipe is affecting backpressure in your system.

------------------
Kevin Irving
85 Trans Am WS-6, 305 TPI, custom burned '86 PROM with '87 "165"ECM, Accel Supercoil & 8.8 Wires, MSD 6AL, Aluminum Driveshaft, TB Coolant Bypass, Ported Plenum, Modified MAF, Syclone Fuel Pump, JET Airfoil

15.556 @ 86.65mph, Nov 10, 2000.... I know it sucks.. but it will get better!

http://www.geocities.com/transam85tpi/

 

Hey! i got an e-mail from thirdgenparts, with a picture of the y-pipe they have for my car. it seems to look alright, but anyone care to help me double-check?

My car is a 1986 IROC Camaro, 305 TPI. all i know is the Y as it enters the cat should be 3". I still have my stock manifolds.

</a>

<img src ="http://thirdgenparts.com/ebay/y1.jpg"></a>

I was going to take it to a shop to install it, but i want to make sure it will fit my car!

Thanks!!!

 

Hey Christos, are you going to bring it to my dad? Exhaust stuff like this is his specialty.

There's a SoCal thirdgen meeting this Saturday and we're gonna meet at his shop to caravan up to Valencia, can you make it?

------------------
West Coast GM Shootout 2001!
1991 Camaro Z28
5.7L 5-Speed (originally 305)
13.25 @ 107.18 MPH
Southern California
Member: SoCal 3rd Gen F-Bodies
Webmaster: SoCal F-Bodies
-=ICON Motorsports=-

[This message has been edited by Kevin91Z (edited February 01, 2001).]

 

Shoot, i doubt i can make it up that early.

nuts!

How far are you exactily from say, LA? just so i can get an idea. why is everyone so far from me? haha