I just bought a 88 Formula 350 and when driving it home noticed that it wouldn't go over 90 mph. I tried in 3rd and 4th gear and it basicly got realy sluggish at about 4000 rpm. However it seemed to have decent power in first and second (spins tires in first.)I know that having a plugged catalytic converter is a common problem with these cars could it be my problem. I changed the distributor cap and rotor (they looked realy bad) when I got home but I don't have time to go out in the country and test tonight because I have to go to work (mabye they were the problem?). Mabye something else.

 

Sounds like the car is suffering from an overall lack of routine maintenance... I believe I'd go through it and take care of the basics before worrying about top speed runs. "Bonnevile"ing it with bad rear end lube, plugged cat, worn front end parts, s***ty tires, etc. is a good way to kill the car and/or yourself.

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"So many Mustangs, so little time..."
ICON Motorsports

 

I definitely agree with RB. Change every fluid in the car and replace with high quality synthetics, air filters, fuel filter, plugs, wires, and do a complete brake and tire inspection (especially to see if the tires are even speed rated and at the correct pressure) before you do too much high speed running.

 

Matt,

Welcome aboard, and welcome to the ThirdGen family.

I think I've said it before, but just in case you didn't catch it, here goes:

With any newly acquired vehicle, it may be impossible to know how it was treated in its former life. Unless you have copies of all the maintenance records, you really don't know how the vehicle was maintained. The seller might have said that he/she "always" changed the oil, and that it was "just tuned up" or "just had brakes", but what was included with the tuneup, and exactly when were the brakes replaced? It's easy to forget dates and mileage, and that tuneup that was "just done" might have been almost a year ago. Because of this, you need to treat any newly acquired vehicle like no service has been done. Take a look at everything. That "tuneup" might have been spark plugs and a spray can of carburetor cleaner - hardly a tuneup by accepted definition. That "brake job" might heave been front pads, with no regard for calipers, wheel bearings, brake cables, and the master cylinder. A "rebuilt transmission" might have been a new servo and fluid. Unless you have a hard copy of the repair records, don't presume the previous owner had any idea of what has been done. If you have repair records, you are one of the fortunate few. Most of us get just what we see, and nothing extra. Sometimes we get even less.

Unless there is some obvious glaring problem, it will be beneficial to first perform the routine service that should have been done for a vehicle of that age and mileage. For a small investment in parts and supplies, and some of your time, you can do some meaningful work and learn something about the mass of metal that you will trust with your life.

Spend a little money and a little more time in, around, and under the vehicle to learn its secrets. Start with a thorough inspection and routine tune up service. After this, many of the little problems you are experiencing may be gone, and any other problems you may encounter will be easier to diagnose since many of the questions and variables will be eliminated.

Perform a basic tune up and general lubrication. Chances are that even if these services were done, they weren't done completely. The factory owner's manual outlines the services necessary at a given mileage or age. If you were lucky, you got an owner's manual with your car. If you were even more fortunate, you have a factory service manual for your vehicle. This goes beyond the outline found in the owner's manual and into detail about the steps to be performed for routine service. It will also become invaluable for troubleshooting and repair of nearly anything you might encounter while you own the vehicle.

Start with a basic, thorough tune up service. It's not just changing the oil. This is a generic outline of GM recommended service procedures and intervals. Verify the correct interval an procedure with your owner's or shop manual.



A basic tune-up MUST include:
* Cooling system inspection;
* Clean or replace spark plugs;
* Ignition wire testing;
* Distributor cap/rotor (if you don't have the OptiSpark);
* PCV valve cleaning or replacement;
* Air filter;
* Cleaning the IAC;
* Check Throttle Position Sensor voltage and adjust as necessary.
* Check/adjust minimum air rate;
* Check/adjust timing;
* Code scan;

If you have a fuel injected engine, there are a few more steps that must be performed to ensure correct fuel system performance.

The proper steps in fuel injector system service are:
* Check fuel pump operating pressure and volume.
* Test pressure regulator for operation and leakage.
* Flush entire fuel rail and upper fuel injector screens to include pressure regulator.
* Clean fuel injectors.(* if necessary)
* Decarbon engine assembly.
* Relearn onboard computer.

If there are problems with the fuel injectors, no amount of "tuning" will correct it short of an injector cleaning. This is very rarely solved with the fuel additives that advertise the ability to clean injectors. These are probably best used as maintenance products, to keep clean injectors clean. Once an injector is beginning to fail, it's usually too late for any such product to be successful. The relatively low cost of these additives makes it worth at least trying, but don't expect it to cure all of your problems. If the injectors react well to the fuel additives, consider yourself one of the fortunate few. Most of the time, the injectors need to be removed for complete cleaning.

Once you service all the parts and systems that need attention for a car of your mileage, most of your problems should be non-existant.

(Excerpted from "ThirdGen Field Survival Manual", coming soon to a bookstore near you...)


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Later,
Vader
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"I'm'a do Things My Way - It's My way or the Highway."
Adobe Acrobat Reader

 

I'll say it again, change everything.

I bought an '84 Z about 2 months ago or so, and went through and changed everything, just as if the car came out of a junk yard.

It made a huge difference. Now that I've got a good starting base, I am going ahead and "bolting" on performance items.

Change all fluids, lube all of the grease points, change plugs, wires, along with what you've already done, flush the radiator and so on. Change any hoses that look even questionable and you'll add plenty of life to your vehicle.

Remember also to treat it nice. Getting on the pedal is aweful fun, but if you do around every corner and off of every stop light and everytime you get on the highway, you're gonna have more trouble.