After vigerously searching these forums for the past two and a half hours, I have found most of the answers I was looking for, but one.

I can't understand why my car pings when warmed up when under moderate to heavy acceleration. Doesn't do it when cold, but it does when warm. Kind of sounds like it could be valvetrain noise too..

Timing is set to proper setting, I've checked that many times. Fuel Pressure is fine. All sensors but MAF were replaced when the motor was rebuilt ~25k miles ago, but I understand new sensors can be bad too. Injectors are old as hell, been told by a few shops that I have called that they are likely my problem. But after reading various posts about people with similar problems and how throwing new injectors in didn't do anything, i'm wary about just throwing parts at my car to try and fix the problem.

I'm thinking my problems are coming from a few different sources. I've ran my codes, and I have an egr code, and a rich condition code.

Egr code is because the sensor on the valve is fubar, I have a new sensor, but I can't get my hands in there.

Not quite sure on the rich condition code, a post by Vader said that it could be a leaking fpr. And I did use a tech article by Vader for making an adjustable FPR, but I had an article that had an error it in, the article listed a ballbearing that was too small. And since I really didn't understand how the FPR operated at the time, I didn't realize that a too small bearing messes things up. Right now, the bearing is still in there, but there is no bolt to tighten down on it, but we did seal the hole for the bolt, so there should be no leakage.

Before we rebuilt the motor I removed the screens on my MAF I didn't realize the consequences of that at the time either, it was listed as a "free mod" on here and in tpis. I am not throwing any MAF codes, but after reading some posts, some people who replaced their screenless MAF's have seen a decrease in problems.

Also, when in warm/hot weather, and after the car is warmed up I get a strong gas smell and the sound of bubbling in the gas tank and recently, a wierd humming sound coming from the gas tank. I've read a bunch of posts on this, and this problem just screams charcoal canister. Going to take a look at it this weekend.


Now, could this pinging be from a combination of all these problems, or is it still something else?

edit.. btw, it is an 89'iroc 350 tpi
edit again, I should also add that the fuel pump was replaced not to long ago.

 

If the EGR is stuck closed, that could very well be causing the detonation problem. I'd take care of your EGR problem first and see if it goes away. When you set base timing, did you disconnect the little connector in the harness on the cowl so the computer would not try to compensate for the changes you are making? If not, you could be way to far advanced.

To change the EGR, you're going to have to pull the plenum off. There really isn't a way to get in there and snake it out.

Throw a fuel pressure gauge on the rail and see what it's reading. If I remember right, stock should be 38-42 PSI.

The noises the tank are making are most likely because it's not ventelating properly. I think you're on to something with the coal canister. Check that out and check the lines going to it from the tank.

Good luck and let us know how it turns out