Hi All,

Im in the process of tuning my new 383 build for my Camaro. My buddy and i worked to get it tuned this weekend, we think were about 90% there but were having this one persistant issue, the engine will run at idle around 800 RPM once the timing is set, but as soon as we turn the car off it wont turn over and the timing needs to be re-adjusted. Here is the info on the build:

86 Camaro Iroc
23 lb Acell injectors, pushing 45-47 lbs at the fuel rails
Stock intake manifold
Comp Cams Xtreme Energy Cam
Duration at .050: I - 218, E - 224
Lift (Max): I - .463, E - .469
Lobe Seperation: 114
World Products S/R Torquer heads
Compression around 9.5:1
Custom Computer chip from Hawks
EGR installed
A.I.R. and smog removed
New sensors all around except for:
Throttle Poition sensor - had a code 22, needed to adjust to the correct voltage of .54 closed and around 3.75 at WOT
Distributor - original from stock 305 TPI that was in the car to begin with.

So as i said, we were working to tune it this weekend, had an issue with the TPS and had a code for the MAF burn-off, adjusted the TPS and could not find any issue with the burn-off circuit, cleared the codes and ran the car for about 5 minutes to generate some more codes, the car was running fantastic around 800 rpm, there was snappy response when we gave it some throttle, no hesitating, no back fires, and it did not smell like it was burning excess fuel like it was prior to adjusting the TPS. All that came back was a code 12 after letting it run.

We let the car sit for a couple minutes and then went to restart it and it wouldnt fire up, just cranked over. It seems like every time you set the timing, upon restart you need to readjust the timing.

It's kind of pointing us in the direction of the distributor due to the fact that it is the stock one from the 305 and with the changes to the computer and engine itself. I was thinking about getting a new distibutor, the only new one i can find is on Summit from Davis Unified Ignition, thats the only HEI computer controlled distributor available, or I was just going to get a new Ignition module and replace that within the distributor but i'm not sure which one would be right for my application.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, this is the final thing I need before I can button everything else up and paint the front end of the car to get it on the road for this spring/summer. Thanks!

 

May not be a timing issue but rather start up fueling. Just a thought but what timing calues you setting base ignition to? Motor shouldnt need but 8-12 deg base to idle with est disconnected. Connected it should see 20-26 deg.

There are some tables with startup advance/retard based on coolant temps you can also try

 

Were around 11 degrees at idle, i did not disconnect the est though while setting the timing.

 

You need to disconnect the est wire and set to around 8-12 deg, then reconnnect. Should see 20-26 at idle connected based on whats in the chip timing table.

 

Thanks Orr, i will take a look at it tonight, im still a little confused on which is the est wire though, at the dist i have the tach, ground and 3 prong on the cap and then there is the 4 or 5 pring connector that comes out near the base. Am i looking for the wire near the fuel pump, MAF burn and MAF power relay? Sorry to be such a pain, but a picture would be extremely helpful.

 

Found a pic on line, i know exactly where the connector is, i will mess with it tonight. Do i have the right steps?
1. Unplug EST cable
2. Set timing at TDC to 8-12
3. Reconnect EST cable
4. Re-check timing, shoudl be in the 20-26 range

Thanks again for the help!

 

Yes its by pass side heater box/blower fan area. Single wire connector.

You have correct steps, but do you have laptop and chip tuning equipment to make changes as necessary in the chip?

 

No, I do not have the computer programming software. I don't believe the PROM that I got from Hawk's is editable. I sent them all the info on the car, they programmed it and sent it to me, its a piggy back PROM.

 

Thats an issue. To do it right you have to be there tuning the car. Hard to mail order tunes. Who knows what they did in the chip. The fine tuning like startups and idle take longer than any other tuning. So that could be why the car is hard to get running, although i wouldnt expect that combo to struggle too much with maf

 

See, I thought the same thing, I contacted Hawks about the chip, since it's a piggy back chip and uses the original PROM from the car that all i need to do is set the timing to 6-8 with the EST disconnected and then plug in the est again and the computer will take it from there. Your right about the pre-programmed chip though, anything could happen.

 

Try the timing thing first and see what happens. Be careful with it until you are certain its running correctly