Okay guys, I have a 1986 Camaro Sport Coupe. Originally a v6 car now has a 305 from an 82 Camaro. Now here's the problem, I drove it around for about 2 weeks and the thing ran great. Then all of a sudden one day it started to run like crap and would barely start.

I thought the timing was off, so I checked that and it was fine.
Has a brand new timing chain. Thought maybe it was the carb so I took the Edelbrock off my other Camaro and put it on and it still ran the same. Installed new cap, rotor, coil, plugs, plug wires, alternator and it still runs like crap. Put the distributor from my other Camaro on and it still ran like crap.

That's when I noticed it, the intake bolts were all finger tight! Well I thought maybe a MAJOR vacuum leak was my problem. I decided to buy an Edelbrock Performer intake and install it, that still didn't fix the problem!!

I'm really at the end of my rope with this stupid car. WTF could be the problem? All help appreciated, thanks.

 

Check your fuel supply.

 

Fuel is fine....

Someone told me something about how the oil pump shaft might be turned in the wrong place or something?

 

Uhh yea... the oil pump shaft can't come out unless the little collar breaks. And the odds of that happening and your engine still running are VERY low. So its likely not that.

And if your distributor went all the way down and mated with the intake, then it had to have connected with the oil pump driveshaft. So if its sitting down all the way in the block (not up about 1/2" above the intake) then thats not your problem.

Change your fuel filter first. Its probably totally plugged. Running some fuel system cleaner through it might be a good idea too.