Ok so heres the deal, i have a 1988 Trans Am w/ an LO3. The motor has about 11,xxx miles on it and the transmission has about 13,xxx. In the morning when i start it cold i let it idle for about 5 mins before i start to drive. When i shift from reverse the engine will stutter for a quick moment and drop in rpms while shifting. It also does it when i put it into gear. Could this be the cause of a dirty fuel filter, faulty fuel pump (even tho it was replaced before i came into posscesion of the car) or something else? im at a loss with this. Also afte ri drive for awhile i get a rattling under the hood that comes and goes when ever i turn the steering wheel back and forth. I believe its my power steering pump going bad but could someone back this up? I do have a small leak coming from the back of it but its always full. any help would be appreciated.

 

anyone got any ideas?

 

bump

 

Not sure I can answer your question, but since noone else is helping i thought I would try to help you out. So my first question is, when the engine was rebuilt was it modified? Next, I see you have TBI. A common characteristic of TBI is fuel puddling in the intake manifold, which could cause a slight stutter I suppose when you put it in gear. Is there any problems when you are in gear and try to move the car? Does it drive ok? Good power for what it is? I know when I put my TBI truck in gear it has a slight "stutter," as in the rpms drop slightly when its put under load, but it drives just fine. Have you cleaned the throttle body recently? How old are the injectors? Maybe running injector cleaner through it might help you a little bit

 

I dont believe that anything inside the engine was modified, but i have raced another L03 T/A and wasted him in a race, so i will have to contact the previous owner and ask. But it drives just fine, likes to drop into OD early sometimes, but other then that nothing. It does stutter like your engine does when i first go to move after shifting it into reverse or drive. I was going to run Sea Foam through the gas and see if that helped anything but never got around to it. Im guessing the injectors are stock as this car sat most of its life before i came into possesion of it. I appreciate your imput because ive been at a loss with this for awhile.

 

Yea no problem, seafoam should help clear it up but if not I wouldnt worry too much about it as long as the car is driving fine and getting decent gas mileage for what it is. Oh yea, if your power steering pump is making noise, it should probably be replaced. It may be on its way out. But check your other accessories before you replace. Your alternator and water pump will make bad noises when they are about to go. Remove the belts and turn by hand and see if its rough, or if the shaft of the accessory has play.