So, I'm not sure if anyone has run into this problem before, but this problem has me stumped.

Car in question: 1989 Camaro RS Automatic
Engine: 305 5.0l TBI
Transmission: 700r4
Gears: 2.73

Upgrades:
MSD Coil
Racing Wires
New Struts / Shocks
Flowmaster Exhaust (Just the muffler and tailpipes)
Holley filter box w/ Specter air filter

Problem: So for about 4-5 days now, my 1989 Camaro RS has been acting up. It won't go past 3000 rpms, BUT will shift through all the gears. 1, 2, 3 & 4 at anywhere between 0 - 2900 rpm. It USED to change gears when the problem started at 3000, but as of tonight it won't even touch 2500 rpms. Even at WOT the car doesn't want to break the 3000 mark, even in park or neutral. When I just barely get on the gas just to move the car up to the speed limit, it won't touch 2500, with that being said, it also now has a top speed of 60mph.

Things i've found:
-The smog pump is completely disconnected by all means. all it is, is just pulley for the belt at this point.
-There is a small metal tube coming off the side of the catalytic converter that is (i'll say really loudly) spitting out exhaust fumes (no idea where it goes or what hooks up to it) and my guess is the cat is going bad.
-Where the driveshaft hooks into the rear of the transmission, there is a small oozing leak from the seal. Not sure if this is the brains of my problems but was worth mentioning.

Overall, the car will still drive, get up to speed and drive normally.
there is just no power, it feels like the power is being choked or held back somewhere and absolutely no strong launches and absolutely NO WOT.

Any advice will be appreciated!


- Tony

 

Cat is clogged, or timing is off. My bet is the cat. Then after you replace the cat, all the chunks in it is in your muffler. So be prepared to change that too. Been down that road with a 85 TA.

Good luck
Bob

 

Sounds exactly what happened to me once. Now when I buy any car the cat is the first thing I remove...of course by law I always replace them though..

 

Yup, sounds like a real plugged up cat.

 

thanks so much everyone! I was worried about the leak from the transmission which i'll be fixing today as well. this was such a relief. i'm gonna head down and get a few pieces of pipe and figure out what i'll be doing about the cat.

 

Yep, cat is clogged is probably the issue. Bet that car is real quiet too.

 

Clogged cats anyone? Cats could do this if they got hot enough.

 

oh yeah. every time you hit the gas it sounds like a LOUD whisper.

 

When my cat clogged I had the same symptoms, and the car was like a V6.

The Smog pump is used to pump air into the cat and help light off the catalyst.The extra air leans out the exhaust and make it run hotter for a faster lite off.

If you remove the cat, you can remove the smog pump too, since it won't be doing anything.

 

Get it done quik.It can be dangerous to you & others as well.During the Super Chevy show here at MIR last year, some guy parked his car with a clogged CAT on the grass.It caught the grass on fire, along with his car & a few more.

 

NOT the "timing", unless you already messed with it.

As said, stopped-up cat is VERY likely. Next most likely thing is fuel delivery: filter, or the injectors need "rebuilt" which is something you can do in your driveway with a coffee can and acoupla ounces of lacquer thinner.

NOT the "timing" in any case. Leave it alone, put it out of your mind, use logic instead of n00b buzzwords.

 

Thanks everyone for the responses, it was 100% the cat and it has been removed, just gotta get the seal on the transmission fixed and i'm back at 100% (: