So, here's the simple story behind my issues.

I got the car a few years as my first car and for over a year I had no problems with the car at all, drove it all over the place just like any 16 year old does when they get a Camaro, car ran fantastic, then I ran into a leak in the fuel tank, had that replaced and went ahead and had the pump replaced while my good friend of the family mechanic was at it.

No problems, then I got me a truck after high school for my job at the time, and drive camaro on weekends, well, one day I'm coming home from work and I got 5 cop cars and a tow truck at my place, the camaro was parked on the side at the time (i live on a corner) and some morons bailed out of there car and their little escort literally ran over the front fender and up the window and back down the back fender, not exactly the best day.

Now Begins the issues, car still started great ran amazing and what not, let it sit for a few weeks before I replaced the steering knuckle that got bent during the little incident. Was happy to have my little weekend car back then it started just.... dying. I was at a light and it just just started getting jumpy and died on me. I would start it right back up and have no problems the rest of my trip. It just got worse and worse with time, one day I'm coming home and it gets REALLY bad, usually never died unless I was at a stop but this time I'm just cruising along and it loses power, won't go past 20 mph, and when I give it gas it won't rev up or anything, just seems to be choking it if anything. During all of this I have noticed a steam coming from under neath the driver side up front, I've obviously popped the hood to see where this is coming from, just seems to be a very small leak in the exaust, but not so sure about that anymore. Ever since then, it won't even start now, the whole chasis just jerks while trying to start it and nothing, the module, rotor, cap, plugs, cables, and coil is all brand new (replaced all of them thinking that might be it, and for some of them it was about time anyways) still the same problem. I've checked the vaccum and all seems to check out, but I was pretty pissed at the time, and I havnt touched it in weeks because I've just been a combination of busy and impatient about the whole thing. I'm about to go out and check the vaccum again, and whatever I can think of, but while I'm sitting here I thought I might ask around. I'm obviously not a very knowledgeable car person but I'm pretty hands on and try what I can before resorting to towing it with my truck to the shop and spending money that I don't want to spend. Sorry about such a vague question. Just throwing out your 2 cents or random ideas just might help me out.

Thanks

 

sounds like a textbook clogged / bad catalytic converter,
unbolt that badboy, let her rip straight off the y pipe, and see if she fires up.

 

I'll head out this very second and find out, I've replaced the whole exaust system except the catalytic converter ($ reasons at the time) I'll check it out. Thanks I'll be sure to post results in a few

 

Well, I tried that, and I got it to fire up! but that's it... I think it was more of a coincidence if anything that it even fired, but I did notice that the oil pressure isn't up now... I tried starting it once again before disconnecting the catalytic converter and the oil pressure was no problem, but now, there is basically no pressure, if I sit for a few seconds just holding the key, cranking the pressure just slowly climbs, to where it should be, but that's it. Very Odd... not really sure what to make of that. or if it even has to do with anything, and I jumped it with my truck just to see if the battery just happened to be an issue, and no difference what so ever.

 

Well, you said 'steam'.. do you remember what it smelled like?

you also said oil pressure is low... is this steam burning oil thats comming
out of a crack or blown gasket? is the oil full?

if its low... throw somthing really thick in there, like lucas oil,
and see if it will fire.. leave the cat disconnected untill you find the problem..
it cant hurt.
the thick oil may let you build up enough pressure to start..

Speaking of which, check your compression if you can.
What do your spark plugs look like?

did you try starting fluid at all?
if it fires and runs on the ether.. could be fuel delivary..

you are obviously getting spark if it fired once... but maybe
you have some bad plugs, or they are just dirty from
whatever problem you are having... and checking them out
might tell you alot.

 

what about fuel? if you replaced the pump with a junk cheap brand, it could be going bad. might as well check fuel pressure as it cant hurt to check.

 

 

About 2months ago before it got to the point where it wouldn't start, I had the pressure checked on the fuel and a compression test both came back fine, but that was before it got all screwed up like it is.

as far as the steam, it, to me... smelt like oil, it probably was, I'm leaning towards a crack or if I'm lucky a blown gasket, ha ha, just because that's how my luck is. I'll head out and see if I can spot any oil anywhere, I know there nothing on ground, but I've been so stupid, I never thought to just look around if it's getting somewhere else etc. (duh)

 

There is a small pool of oil right by the distributor, pretty much narrows it down to what it is... crack or blown gasket...

Thanks for the help, sorry about that, I just been so frustrated with it, I think part of me was worried about that, and I refused to like really check for that...

 

Is the oil milky? coolant mixed in w/ the oil?

Maybe I'm wrong here, idk but if there is oil on the back by the dist. wouldn't it be an intake gasket?

 

ya my thought would be intake gasket