I can't figure out why my car feels like it has no power.
I can drive the car but it seems like it has no power under 3K.
88 Formula 305 TPI 5 speed.

 

Depending on what your octane is and how you have it set now, you would here it start to ping.

I am assuming this is in follow up of your other thread? If so, what exactly have you checked/replaced up to this point?

I had a mini van once with no power and it turned out I blew a head gasket.

 

Advance Timing on your car is controlled by the computer. If you have any datalogging software, it should show how much timing the computer is running.

The other method would be to check with a timing light, and using the mark on the balancer. It's easier to do with a light that has an adjustible scale on the back that lets you change the timing setting on the light. You would bring the car up to 3000 rpms or so, then set the dial on the light to 30 degrees. You should see the mark on the balancer, but it probably won't be lined up with the 0 mark on the timing tab above the balancer. Move the dial around until the mark on the balancer is at the 0 mark on the tab. Check what the dial is set to on the light, that that is how much timing you are running at 3000rpms.

Hope this helps!

 

Yes, it's realated to my other post.
I checked all the grounds, and I read another post that Alloy made about his car with a ground being tight but the connection corroded. I checked that ground and it was tight but there is so little space back behind the head that I can't actually inspect the connection.

I checked all the plug wires and they are nice and tight.

The only thing I can think of is that I had to pry the rotor button off of the distributer with a screw driver and a crow bar. I was pressing down on the base of the dist. for leverage to pry the button off. I then put silicone grease on the shaft and some got on the top of the dist. and I wiped most of it off.

I run 93 octane all the time with the base timing set to 12 with no ping..

I'll check the oil to make sure it isn't milky. The only smoke that comes out of the tail pipes is oil from leaking valve seals goes away right after it starts.

 

out of all the tools I have, I don't have a timing light.
I'll see if I can borrow one that is adjustable. Thanks.

 

While in park/neutral, the most advance you'll get is about 20-22*'s BTDC (with ECM controlled timing) while revving the engine, no need for a adjustable light, you'll still be able to view the mark about 3/4-1 inch from the timing tab.

 

Well, I fixed the problem.
While I was prying off the old rotor button, I broke the pickup ring in the ditributor (the round thing with pointy edges). Put in the new distributor and now the cars runs great. Car now feels like a high 14 sec car. gonna take it to the track this friday and see what she does with a T5 vs the Auto.