My 91 Camaro RS has a standard 350 (previously swapped), I installed a TPI system from a 89z28 including the intake, TB, sensors and the relays. The ECM, Prom, and MAF are from an 87 Trans Am. I have it all wired and use an inline fuel pump to push 40psi at the rail in idle. The car has headers and the O2 sensor that was in the car when i bought it. It had been shaking and running rough and after i replaced plugs and wires, it ran very smoothly for a short time. I then had MAF related codes and after i repaired the analog ground the car ran even better. Now here are my symptoms.

With the MAF installed:
the car will crank, start then immediately die. after several attempts it will start, go to closed loop mode and drive with an SES indication. It initially idles around 1500rpm then once warm it drops to btw 500-750 and will surge until it dies. If i drive it, i do to work each day, it will drive ok, but shakes during acceleration under load. If the gas is pushed to the floor it will pop and then the rpms go straight to 2000 and any further attempts to accelerate will kill the engine until i pop the clutch and kill it that way and restart.
The other case is if i give it gas during cranking, just a slight cracked throttle causes popping and backfiring like bad timing. So i rigged the throttle just slightly open, started it with no SES light and suddenly it stopped popping and the car rev'd to 7000 i jumped in and turned it off. I did this several times so i quit screwing with it.
the scan codes for this way are 21TPS too high, 23 MAT too low, and 34 MAF too low. I replaced the TPS with no changes.

Without the MAF installed:
the car starts on the first try, will idle higher and still surge but not die. I drives but with very bad fuel economy and still shakes violently. with out the MAF the codes are 33 and 36.

I am about to install a new fuel filter and possible the cold start pieces to see if any of that will help. I have the EGR disconnected as well as the air divert crap. Im about fed up with it, the car has a straight body and near perfect interior which is why i bought it. I swapped the tpi cause i was bored. If anyone has suggestions they would be greatly appreciated. I just need this car to run for my daily driver until i can start and LS swap in it (in approx 1 year) I get to write these gripes for the jets we break when we fly them, i hate having to do it for **** i have to pay for.

 

I think it's time to install the laptop with scanning/datalogging software.

 

Vacuum leaks?

 

Found out that i am loosing compression on several cylinders and the valve guides are leaking oil into the combustion chambers. The oil rings are going bad as well. Basically the engine is now garbage so rather than repairing or replacing this old 350, im just going to have a 6.0 LS truck engine installed. Or if any one has suggestions on the engine because the 5.3l seems like it would be a unique option also.

 

Engine is pulled and LT1 from a formula with 70K is going in. Im paying someone to do it right.