I have a 1984 Z28 with the L69 HO engine (carb not FI). It has an automatic transmission. Every morning when I try to start it it turns over for a LONG time. It does not catch at all. It is as if it is getting no fuel. After trying to start it a couple of times, and randomly pressing on the gas pedal, it usually eventually starts. On some occasions I need to spray some starter fluid in the carb. Once it starts, it will start up for the rest of the day immediately with the first turn of the key.

In addition, when I really get on the gas it will at times, lose all power and the RPMs will drop way down. If I let up off the gas a little, it will pick back up and run fine. This usually happens right when the car shifts from first to second under heavy load. Sometimes it will fully shift into second and then a second later, bog down. Other times the power loss happens at the same time as the shift (right before or at the exact same time). If I drive more moderately, the car shifts fine with no loss of power.

I have changed the distributor cap and the fuel filter but have done little else with the mechanicals. My gut feeling is that it may be a problem with the fuel pump or the carb but before I go messing with any of that I wanted to see if anyone else has seen anything like this. I'm open to any suggestion

 

Sounds like a failing fuelpump, clogged fuel pickup sock or even the base of the carb has come loose and is letting to much air leak in. (had a olds do that to me years ago)

 

Hmmm. I will have to look at the carb more closely. One final thing. I did put in a Spectre air filter (the kind that has a free flow filtering top) and am not using the top of the airbox. I would have assumed that the carb would compensate but is it possible that is contributing to the problem?