Two days ago I drove to work in my trusty 1984 Z28, endured my painful shift, and when I went to leave I encountered an unplesant suprise. I turned my key and the engine started, but it was chugging, sputtering, and didn't "choke" up to the usual 1250rpm. I drove home and it chugged the whole way, had no power, and wanted to stall especially after the choke kicked off.

Car specs FYI: 84 Z28, LG4, 5spd, Qjet, headers and catback, comp cam, accel coil & wires, no computer.

Here's what I've tried already...
1)Checked all vaccuum lines and sprayed carb cleaner around intake to check for vaccuum leaks
2)Inspected cap & rotor for corrosion
3)Checked wires for contact and damage
4)switched to spare Qjet to rule out carb problem - new fuel filter too

I'm thinking I have a dead cylinder(s). Something weird I noticed when I checked the wires was that the driver's side headers were toasty, but the passenger's side were hardly warm!?! At that point I pushed up on the egr valve to make sure it wasn't stuck open (wasn't).

One more thing, did I do anything to it prior to this incident? Yes, 4 days before this happened I switched to synthetic oil (Mobil 1). Could that have desludged it enough to lose compression in a cylinder? I still have good oil pressure when it's chugging.

I know it's probably time for project 350, but is there something I'm missing? Any suggestions? Thanks.

 

How is your valvetrain?

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1988 L98
Vette Heads/no EGR
SLP Headers/Y-Pipe
ARAP bin

 

i'd suspect the carb/choke. if not that is the wires and plugs good, is the tune up and related parts good?

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ICON Motorsports
1st & 3rd
MM Black Diamond 538 F&AM

 

Valvetrain should be fine. New cam & lifters 5 months ago, and the heads were rebuilt about 2 years ago. The car ran great all summer including the morning I drove to work before it happened. I guess the timing chain could have jumped a tooth though - new chain but original gears.

Pretty sure it's not carb/choke because I put my spare Qjet on with same results. Haven't pulled the plugs - is there anything specific I should look for?

[This message has been edited by Justy (edited October 05, 2001).]

 

Did you say that one header is hot and the other side in cold? Did you check for spark, fuel, and air?

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1988 L98
Vette Heads/no EGR
SLP Headers/Y-Pipe
ARAP bin

 

Did you try pulling a plug or three to see if they are fouled on the suspected cylinders?

By any chance, did you happen to fill up with gas on your way to work that morning? Could be crap in the tank...

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1984 z28 w/ a 357 cu in. monster engine which is looking like the posterchild for Edelbrock with the exception of the Holley 750vac... all the suspension stuff... 9-bolt posi disk is in...

-=ICON Motorsports=-

 

my guess is fuel delivery. possibly a pump?