alright...check it out. a few days ago i was racing my car home (305 TPI) and when i pulled into my parking spot, it died out on me and i haven't been able to start her up since...except for a few times using ether. the only problem is, when i use the ether to start it up (not onlly does it run REALLY hot) but i have to keep reving the engine. if i let it idle, it dies out again and i can't start it w/o the ether. what does this mean? do i need a new computer? is it electrical? I know i'm getting spark, and i'm getting fuel, maybe i'm just not getting enough fuel. grr...all i know is mechanics are to expensive, so you guys out here are my only hope. what should i do?

 

What is your timing set at?

 

Spraying ether into it to start, would indicate you are not getting any fuel at startup.

Do you hear the FuelPump prime when you turn the key?

If so, do you have a way to verfiy fuel pressure(FP gauge)?

That's where I'd start.

 

okay, lets face it, i'm not a genious when it comes to these cars (or any cars for that matter) slowly but surely i'm picking things up here and there...i'm not sure what my timing is set at. could it be the timing? i mean, it was running like a champ one second, then it just stopped and i haven't been able to fire her up. people have mentioned to me that it could be the fuel pump or the fuel filter. but i'm not sure. i'm not made of money, and i need this car to get to my job to make money, or else i can't put money into my car...it's a vicious cycle. i kinda wanna pin point the problem or at least narrow it down so i can try to get it fixed asap w/o falling behind in rent (like i already did...D'OH!).

 

lol...you guys reply pretty quick. i know i hear the fuel pump when i turn the key to on. that's that little "buzz" right? yeah, i hear that. and there's that little **** on the engine where when i push it down fuel shoots up (i don't know what it's called, like i said, i'm a rookie)...well, there is fuel shooting up. but that doesn't mean that i'm getting enough pressure right? i don't have a FP gauge. i heard they're pretty expensive. i think one of my buddies has one. i'll check that out...in the mean time, what else can you tell me?

 

Ok, your fuel pump is priming, but are your injectors firing? Doesn't sound like it. Im pretty sure there is a fuse for the injectors beneath your steering column, check that. Can you check for codes, and do you get any? The computer has to tell the injectors to fire, so that may be a problem. I would say it is definately electrical.

 

I have a 305 TPI also. Because you can start it by injecting "fuel" yourself, and because when you stop spraying "fuel" into the intake it begins to stop, I too would be looking at the fuel injectors. On my '91, there are two fuses, one is for the left bank, anotheris for the right. Maybe one fuse blew, leaving only four cylinders working. That would explain the symptons you decribed...

Milwaukee? I grew up in River Hills.