well after two weeks of on and off work on installing the new 305 I got to start it tonight. We tryied last night but somehow the dis got 180 out and blew a huge flame at my dad and lite the aircleans on fire(too much starter fluid). Ummm....well we fixed that and she started right up (just a tad of starter fluid). did she smoke.....must have been a 300 ft by 75 ft cloud of smoke(when the 305 blew tons of oil got i the eshaust). but after a while it is getting better. Another problem is that the oil press gauge is pinned agaoin the lower wall(below zero) all the time, even when it is off. The thermosate much be no good(for some unknown reasone) beacause the upper rad hose does not get hot. So I will try it without the thermo. What I really want to know it is caracterisic of our gauges to move around with a low batt and current draws? What can I do to fix the oil pressure gauge.

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1987 Black 305 TPI 5spd IROC, seems to be fully loaded, but can't find RPO codes.

AIM: SzkiRM125
F-bodies : The last with-standing defense against the Invasion.

 

Did you really use starter fluid on a new engine? Ouch!
If the engine was freshly rebuilt, it's gonna smoke a LITTLE til the rings seat. The starter fluid would have washed away any oil/assembly lube in the cylinders, making a poor environment for the rings.
As for the gage, mine worked OK when my alternator gave out and the batt slowly died. Check the wiring at the gage and the sender...

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88 IROC with cobbled together (not by me)drivetrain, 86 (?) TPI unit,CE subframe connectors, Edelbrock strut tower brace, polygraphite bushings all around...it handles like a dream, but man is it hard to push!!

 

the starter fluid is supposidly not supposed to take off the oil.

 

GM guages always zero strait up so if it's strait down then you have a problem. Do all the guages do that or jus the oil pressure gauge?