so, the car was running pretty crappy with a pretty bad bog off idle, under load, with just alittle throttle. If I hit it hard it was fine. So I figured my timing was off. I don't have a timing gun so I moved the distributor just alittle until the idle was smoother.

At this point it semi solved the problem but there was still a little bog. I went over the the hobby shop here on base and used the timing light and set the timing to 6 degrees. The timing was at like 14 degrees. THEN, the car ran like complete crap! It would nearly stall and pop under load/ light throttle. When the car started moving it wouldn't have any power and wouldn't shift until like 300 rpms no matter how much throttle I gave it.

I limped home, advanced the timing again the way I did before and it runs like it used to, not great with a slight bog off idle.

What is the deal here. No Vacuum leaks or anything. I have changed the plugs and the wires are near new. I reset the IAC's and nothing though it ran smoother but faster idle with them unplugged.

 

You have to disconnect the EST before you set the timing. 14 with the EST hooked up is probably horribly retarded.

What engine is this exactly? Year, size, induction, modifications, etc.

 

82 CFI.....All stock with exception of hedman headers.

The est is the wire connector that goes into the firewall right? that was disconnected and I checked to make sure the timing did not advance with the throttle.

Can I jumper a to b on the ecm to make the est and the timing do the same thing? It sounds like it could be way retarded due to the backfiring and no power at all.