Hey guys. I have a 1988 Tojan (firebird) with a TPI motor. I dont even know if its a 305 or 350. The vin says 305 but I was told it was a 350 when I bought it in 1991. The car has been sitting outside for the past 7 years while I was away in another state. It was started once a year except for last year and was told to me that is started but ran with no power. I came home and decided to get it put back together. It had no spark so I replaced the coil pick up and module in the distributor with old replacements I had lying around. It started but ran horribly so I assumed I had the distributor in off one tooth. I brought number one up to TDC and wiggled valves to be sure it was on compression stroke then replaced distributor with rotor pointing at number 1 on the cap. I put a fuel pressure gauge on and I get 45 psi with pump on and 42 psi going to crank. It has an aftermarket pump mounted on inner fender. So...I have spark at the plugs, good fuel pressure, and timing is at least pretty close but will not start. Anyone have any ideas what I can check or what to do next? Please help. I got a case of beer for whoever gets it running for me. Thanks

 

How old is the gas and what do the plugs look like? They could be junk from old gas. Otherwise it sounds like your problem could be hit or miss since it sometimes runs sometimes doesn't and gets hard to diagnose.

 

Running with no power...possibly clogged exhaust?

But does it even try to start?

Get a helper, hook a timing light up to #1, disconnect the EST bypass connector, shoot the light while your helper tries to start the car, should still be a 6BTDC...then at least you'll know base timing is correct or not, adjust distributor as needed.

Then put a noid light on the injector harness, verify the injectors are pulsing...well, at least the power is pulsing trying to fire them.

If the light flickers, pull the aircleaner snorkel off, open the TB blades, squirt 2-3 shots of starting fluid in there, then try to start it again...if if does try to start, AND the injectors are getting the signal to fire, and if the base timing is correct, then it's very possible the injectors are bad...possibly rusted/plugged close.

Thing is, if they are don't just replace them...you'll need to do some flushing with fresh fuel first.

 

bad coolant temp switch...ill take my beer now....ez fix...10 dollar part..should be done anyways....

 

I will bet that after sitting for 7 years the injectors are clogged or the coils are going bad.

 

WAIT A MINUTE!!!!! Your phone lines say you be closed!

And here ya are on Friday answering a post....mercy, and I have to wait till Tuesday

 

Hey guys. Thanks for the replies.
Aliceempire.. the gas is 7 years old. so it make sense to me it would be a problem but it did fire and start when I first put the distributor in but struggled rough thats why I tried to move the distributor one tooth thinking it wasnt in right. Now it will not start at all even after putting the dist. back in where it was. The plugs look good but black.
8Mike9... it does sound like it tries to start, cranks great but just not catching. I would like to try your timing idea but dont see a timing tab anywhere to shoot the light at. Can you tell me where the tab "should" be and if mine could possibly be missing on this car? Looking at the crank pulley at what clock position should a tab be? I will try the noid but I am assuming they are firing since it did start at one point. Unless of course something else suddenly went bad. I have tried shooting starting fluid in the TB but still no run. Wouldnt starting fluid byplass the injectors if that was the problem?
Southbay08... I assume you mean the ignition coil? It is getting spark so that must be good am I right? I dont know if they get weak? And IF the fuel injectors are clogged, would it have started in the first place? Wouldnt it still start by spraying starting fluid directly into the TB? It wont even start and run for a second now.

Thanks for the ideas up to this point guys. These beers are getting pretty frosty cold and looking for a home. Anyone near CT to come take a peek at this monstrosity? I am going to try some of your ideas and re-post to let you know the results. Thanks so far in advance. I will try to post some pics if thats allowed on here to show you what I am working with.

 

Hey guys. Thanks for the replies.
Aliceempire.. the gas is 7 years old. so it make sense to me it would be a problem but it did fire and start when I first put the distributor in but struggled rough thats why I tried to move the distributor one tooth thinking it wasnt in right. Now it will not start at all even after putting the dist. back in where it was. The plugs look good but black.
8Mike9... it does sound like it tries to start, cranks great but just not catching. I would like to try your timing idea but dont see a timing tab anywhere to shoot the light at. Can you tell me where the tab "should" be and if mine could possibly be missing on this car? Looking at the crank pulley at what clock position should a tab be? I will try the noid but I am assuming they are firing since it did start at one point. Unless of course something else suddenly went bad. I have tried shooting starting fluid in the TB but still no run. Wouldnt starting fluid byplass the injectors if that was the problem?
Southbay08... I assume you mean the ignition coil? It is getting spark so that must be good am I right? I dont know if they get weak? And IF the fuel injectors are clogged, would it have started in the first place? Wouldnt it still start by spraying starting fluid directly into the TB? It wont even start and run for a second now.

Thanks for the ideas up to this point guys. These beers are getting pretty frosty cold and looking for a home. Anyone near CT to come take a peek at this monstrosity? I am going to try some of your ideas and re-post to let you know the results. Thanks so far in advance. I will try to post some pics if thats allowed on here to show you what I am working with.

 

Change that gas and those plugs. If that gas is 7 years old, any other troubleshooting will most likely be pointless. Engines don't like running on turpentine.

 

that's one strange fire bird you got there. body kit? Trojan? where did you get THAT?

 

Not trojan...Tojan....only a few made, pop up from time to time. https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/memb...ird-tojan.html