I bought my vert with a L05 that had overheated and needed a rebuild so I swapped in a lo3 that came out of another 91 RS. I finally completed the engine swap, I also did a t5 swap and bipassed the neutral safety switch so that isn't the issue. At first I tried starting the car and the motor turned over but did not start. We sprayed starter fluid in the tbi unit but it kind of wanted to start then back fired. I then realized that my electronics were not working and fuses were not getting any power. I found that a bad ground was causing this since it was installed on the alternator bracket. I checked on my 89 parts car and i saw that they are getting ground from the passenger side of the block. After messing with the ground the electronics began to work again and my pump is priming but I still cannot start the car. I thought I may have a VATS issue but vats prevents starter from receiving power right? if so thats not the case.

Any ideas?

 

Have you checked the control module in the distributor?

 

no i have not but I will look into it once i get home today. I spoke to my friend which was helping me out and he said he recalls that the security light was on. So it may be a VATS issue. I am going to look into over-riding VATS. There is spark. I know this because it backfired while trying to start and it caused a small fire which was quickly put out

 

anyone? does this sound like a vats issue?

 

Back firing indicates that your timing is off. Pull #1 cylinder plug and rotate engine with a breaker bar until balancer indicates 0 TDC and you can feel #1 cyl piston with a straw. Mark #1 cylinder position on dizzy body then pull dizzy hat and see if rotor is aligned against this mark. This should get you close enough to get her started.

//RF

 

Thanx for the help that was it. Distributor was almost 180 off of where it should be pointing. But now the issue that I'm having is car is running extremely rich and does not have a service light on. Any ideas on what is causing it to run in this manner.

 

OK, do you have 5.7L TB on top of your 5.0 (LO3)??? If so the chances are that 5.7 L injectors are dumping too much fuel... Another possibility is defective CTS - but that will result in SES...

//RF

 

The distributor was on the exhaust stroke. Ive seen that one before.

You can stick your finger in the #1 spark plug hole to feel the compression stroke too since both valves will be closed.

Good luck with your swap!

 

The 5.7 TB is possible because when I bought the car it had an L05 in there. I have an 89 L03 parts car that ran when I parked it in my back yard. Should I remove the TB from that car and install on mine?

 

Take a look at injector tops - they should have color markings and part numbers:
Green/White 5.0L 40 lb/hr GM 5235279 *RPD
Orange/Black 5.7L 55 lb/hr GM 5235206 *RPD

Color markings may get rubbed off, but part numbers should be there, and maybe difficult to see. Post what you find, but the chances are you'll need LO3 injectors to stop immediate flooding condition.

//RF

 

I have a set of injectors in the parts car. i will take a look once i get home from work

 

I swapped in the ecm from my 89 parts car. Its also a 5spd l03 and it idled better. I put fluid in the trans then started it up and went to put it in gear and it wouldn't go in. Completely forgot about bleeding my clutch hydrolics