Hey guys.

I picked up an 87 TA that was originally a 5.0L car but now has a Vortec 350 block with ZZ4 heads and a nice cam in it.

regardless of what motor it has in it, this is the ignition system it has in it.

New GM distributor
MSD coil
MSD Super Conductor 8.5mm wires
Champion Platinum plugs @.035" gap

here is the problem that im having.. I put new plugs in the car and pulled out the timing light and i found that the car is advanced 18*. I figured i would retard it back to the 6* my repair book says it should be at.

I disconnected the black/tan wire that controls the electric advance and timed it back to where it should be (6* advanced). After i plugged the wire back in and let the car idle for a couple minutes, check the timing again, and its back to 18*.

The previous owner of this car was on the forum and had it tuned by someone named Kevin i believe. I have no clue who that is or what all was done to the car.

Its running okay, but it is definately having ignition problems. I am trying to get the car smoged and it cant pass because it wont hold a steady RPM. I know that at an idle, the RPM is going to move around a little bit because of the cam in it. When its on the dyno for a smog, they cant get it to hold the RPM it needs to so they can smog the car. This means that i cant smog the car and cant register it. Which in turn means that i cant drive it

Someone help me out. Im about to go out and buy a distributor but i dont want to keep sinking money into the car if all it needs is a good tune.

 

anyone have any idea as to what it might be?