mustangslayer86

OK, I have a mechanic who is used to working on older cars like 1970 and before, but he agreed to help me when I bought this 88 GTA. We took the entire motor out and redid the exhaust manifolds and spark plug wires and spark plugs, etc. etc. This thing has been a pain since the beginning.

When we start it up its missing and I'm wondering what can cause this, because all I know is that normally when that happens it needs to be rebuilt. Could it be low fuel pressure? I don't have the air intake hooked up at the moment so could it be getting too much air? Just throw some ideas at me so we can try them tomorrow when we work on it. It's starting to scare me to the fact that I might have to part it out already because it's already became very difficult to fund.

Quick_Trans_Am

iTrader: (2)

Defective spark plug wires, cracked, broken, or dirty spark plugs, corroded cap and rotor all will cause those things, along with a bum fuel injector or incorrect firing order. Fuel filter too. If you are positive none of those things are an issue, i'd do a compression test on the cylinders.

Edit: I see that it's an '88 model year. Check the mass air sensor for excessive dirt/gunk inside as well.

ternandes

iTrader: (7)

If it is an 88 GTA it should have TPI, and if the air intake is not connected, you are not drawing air through the MAF sensor. The engine might idle OK, but will sputter and backfire if you try to rev it.

Are you getting any codes from the computer?

mustangslayer86

Yeah I'm not to the point where any of the air intake system is hooked up. I'll get back to you when it is, even though it sounded a hell of a lot better when I ran some injector cleaner and put some expensive transmission fluid in it.

83Firebird420

i would say hook up the intake with the maf...the maf is telling the computer there is no air going in when its really sucking in tons of air when its not hooked up.