Guys, I'm wondering if you can help me brainstorm this one...I'm kind of at the end of my rope.

Little background: I have an 87 TransAm 305 TPI in my tube framed trail buggy (think: rockcrawler). I've got a custom tuned PROM with the VSS, AIR, EGR, cold start injector all deleted. Otherwise, the engine is stock (with headers, K&N cone filter on the MAF elbow). I've been running it for a couple years without ANY issues and I love this engine.

And now my problem: Every once in a while the thing will stall like you just shut off a valve in the fuel line. Sometimes if I cycle the ignition and let the MAF go through the burnoff cycle it will fire right back up and run perfect, other times I have to leave the ignition on and unplug the MAF, plug it back in, and then it will restart and run perfectly again! Now, this all started right after I cleaned and reoiled the K&N (not overly oiled)....so I tried cleaning the MAF sensor with CRC MAF aerosol cleaner (dried properly before reinstalling) and that didn't work. Same symptoms. So, I replaced the MAF power and burnoff relays, the plugs to both relays, the MAF connector, and the fuel pump relay and connector since they were all questionable.

After the electrical repairs, I thought I had it licked.....but again today we were out trail riding and it started acting up again. Unfortunately I can't do much diagnosis on it while I'm out in the middle of the timber, so I'm not sure what the hell is happening. It's really weird though. The thing never stutters or anything, just DIES. Then once I do the "reset" it runs perfectly.

I'm just hoping someone can give me an idea what may be happening. Could it be a MAF problem? Maybe an ECM? What in the system could be resetting when I unplug the sensor?



Edit: Just for kicks, a pic of the buggy.

 

I've been studying the wiring diagram today and I guess I forgot from when I did the harness that the oil pressure switch is in that circuit. That would make sense, given the weird nature of this problem. When I get some time this weekend I'll check out the connections and stuff and maybe just throw a new switch in it. I'll report back later of my findings.....hopefully I'll be able to save someone the misery I've been through.