hi i have a 1988 chevy 305 5.0 litler automatic tanny with overdrive
engine has 167000

whats new
ingnition modual
ingnition coil
cap
rotar
plugs
wires
alternator
fuel filter
timing gears and chain plus cover april 11 2011
new oil changed april 11 2011 with filter and all levels check out good


the problem is the engine has no power at all it is wimpy but oil pressure drops to zero than it tries to die so i have to give it gas but guages dont read increase in pressure until im moving or in park or neutral engine has run like crap for a little while but any way im hoping its not the cam if it is its probably not something i want to mess with after replacing timing gears and getting timing right and replaceing all fluids engine ran like this before timeing gears and chain were replaced so its running the same but has no power and from what i understand this engine should put out 210hp stock but it puts out almost nothing it will take a block or so to get to speed but has more power if engine is driven cold im not thinking its the guage becasue engine dies when breaking or after it comes from giving gas to a stop than just idiling but is fine if i shut off than start and let idle and if its the cam any suggestions on a good cam or something and how about running cfome in this 305 with 167000 miles on it good or bad idea

 

Might be a bad oil pressure sending unit, located above oil filter. Might also be a bad fuel pump relay.

The ECM controls the fuel pump relay, making the fuel pump turn on and off. If that relay is bad, the car will still start because the oil pressure sensing unit has a backup circuit for the fuel pump - when oil pressure gets above 4psi and fuel pump is not running, the OPSU will kick it on and run fuel pump as long as their is 4 psi of oil pressure.

So, if your relay is bad, and the OPSU is trying to run the fuel pump, but it's bad also, then your not getting any fuel when the OPSU "thinks" the pressure fell below 4psi.

Not a guarantee, but it's a possibility.