Ok, here's the deal/update.......

Section one: The power robbing vibration.
The vibration is almost 100% gone... How? Well, the only way to get the flywheel out is to unbolt the tranny and slide it back, right? Well, we noticed the weight on the 2.8 flywheel and said, "What the hell, let's try it..." Knocked it off with a gasket scraper. Like I said, got almost 100% of the vibration out. Here's question #1:

Will it hurt the flywheel to run it without that weight on it (I can't see why it would...)?

Section two: The mysterious wire.
I think it may go to the TCC (Torque Converter Clutch) switch. Anyone with an auto tranny (Preferably the '87 or later models), and a little extra time wanna help me out by rooting around for a wire coming out of the main harness behind the distributor, going down toward the tranny somewhere (Should go towards the driver's side I think.)? It's a tan/black, purplish (word?), and blue bundle, going into a white four pronged plug, like the one at the back of the throttle body (except white)... Kinda like this -> 88 from the front. Two prongs on the top, two on the bottom...

Thanks for the help guys!

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--'87 Camaro LT --
Currently undergoing a 2.8->3.4 swap.....

 

I looked at a 700R4 from an 88 RS, and it has a place to plug that in on the front PS of the tranny. That is probably the plug you are stumped on.

EDIT - Oh and on the flywheel thing, I have seen 3 from 2.8's. One from an 82 Firebird - didn't have it. One off an 88 RS - no weights. And on the running 89 RS (other 2 weren't in running condition) - no weights. I think it would be okay to run without it.

Vman

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1969 Camaro Sport Coupe
383, 700R4, leather, everything black but the lights

Previous owner of an 89 RS Camaro
2.8L V6, 700R4

[This message has been edited by Vortex_89rs (edited April 08, 2001).]

 

Give it a try!
If you get the engine to run smooth & strong & proper, you'll know if you win in the flexplate weight issue.
You can always ask a tranny shop, if they are cool!
Great Idea, tho !

------------------
Chat Soon,
KED85
Karl
1985 Firebird 2.8 to 3.4 swap project for Smog Happy LA, CA

 

"I'm pickin' up good vibrations..." Oh- sorry!

1982-1986 engines were externally balanced- weights on flexplates (auto trans flywheels). In 1987, an extra disc was added to the center of the 2.8 crankshaft, meant for distributorless ignitions. The extra disc acted as a counterweight, and allowed 1987-1992 engines to be internally balanced! This removed the need to keep the flexplate with the engine it came from.

So, as long as 3.4's stayed the same, run without the weight, you're fine.

I agree with Vman, I think you found the right application for the wire.


------------------
-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

 

Asked the Chevy dealer's parts man (He's gotta be tired of seeing me by now ), and he basically told me I was right about the wire. Just came home about an hour ago, looked on the tranny, driver's side, beside what looked like some sort of actuator (I know NOTHING about trannys... just a little about motors), and found the hole for the plug. Down to my last problem now.....

The mysterious vibration: Part two
Got the timing dead on at 10btc. But when I push the gas, it hesitates and doesn't give that "instant rev" that you should get. I can let it run in park in the garage, and it idles pretty smooth, rev it up, runs even smoother. BUT, when I take it on the road, it is just flat out sluggish. It's not even drivable enough to take it out of my neighborhood. When slowing down for stopsigns, it also vibrates and shakes like it wants to stall out. I can only think of two things that can cause this. The torque converter isn't locking or unlocking (which would kill the revs, right?) or the EGR valve is sticking. Or maybe I've got a vaccum leak somewhere else. I'm getting ready to go check all my connections and wrap them in electrical tape, so I might find it that way, but either way, any help would be greatly appreciated.

------------------
--'87 Camaro LT --
Currently undergoing a 2.8->3.4 swap.....

 

TOM P how do you know all this??? its like you know the year the used a new bolt lol im justcurious how did u get soo damn smart

 

Alrighty.... just went for a 10 minute drive around the neighborhood. Came back, sat in the garage, and reved on it a couple times.... still smokes from behind the motor..... looked underneath and guess what? My cat is BRIGHT orange. Now, I'm wondering if this could cause my car to shake and vibrate at idle, and then smooth out at RPMs, and make it lag like it is? Any thoughts?

------------------
--'87 Camaro LT --
Currently undergoing a 2.8->3.4 swap.....

 

I'm pretty sure....altho I suppose I COULD be wrong.

------------------
Smile, you're in my rearview I'm joking, I have a v6.
Respect My Authoritaw {Cartman Voice}
See pics @ Billy's Firebird
92 Bird 3.1L Auto--Best $750 I ever spent....DRIVE IT LIKE YOU STOLE IT!
Kills:93 Mustang LX (Before Mods),98 or 99 Dodge Stratus (tough one, edged out at 40),92 Camaro RS 305 TBI-Not too fair, his fuel pump went out 2 days later. Nice car, but not running right. 97+ Honda somethin or another...modded....kept at my door the entire way
Close Calls-94 Grand Am 3.1 V6, 92 Cavalier 3.1 V6
01 Porsche 911 Turbo (Had em till first gear)
Mods-Jet Stage 2 Performance Chip, Accel Cap/Rotor, Accel 8.8 MM Wires, Accell Coil, AC Delco Rapidfire Plugs, Dynomax Catback, K&N
AIM name OVRCLCK350
Best LOUSY Run...17.263 @ 77.79MPH
In a Dog Eat Dog world, I STILL go after tha cat.

 

btt...

------------------
--'87 Camaro LT --
Currently undergoing a 2.8->3.4 swap.....

 

ok, this is a HUGE shot in the dark but....in your torque convertor there is a Stator that spins on a one-way clutch. these tend to fail. essentially, they are "locked" at low speeds, but "freewheel" at high speeds. sooo....if yours was "freewheeling" ALL THE TIME(i.e. broken one-way clutch) you would have poor, poor low end performance but everything is normal at high speeds. THIS IS JUST A GUESS.

now, if your TCC was staying partially locked when decelerating your engine would try to die.....hmmmm. when is the last time you changed the transmission fluid??? all these symptoms make it seem like your car has SEVERAL problems....i'd post this in general tech(if you haven't)...those guys are very good.


------------------
Dan
1990 3.1L RS
80 Series Flowmaster
It's fast(er than a 3 cyl metro)

 

Have you cleared the computer, then driven, then checked to see if it's throwing any codes?
That would/could tell ya right away.
They only cost $30 or so & come with the code book to tell you what the source of problem is.
That's how I knew I had bad MAS & swapped it, now runs great!

------------------
Chat Soon,
KED85
Karl
1985 Firebird 2.8 to 3.4 swap project for Smog Happy LA, CA

 

Or you could pay $0.25 and use a paper clip, and 1 sheet of paper to print out the codes from the tech section of this site.



------------------
Smile, you're in my rearview I'm joking, I have a v6.
Respect My Authoritaw {Cartman Voice}
See pics @ Billy's Firebird
92 Bird 3.1L Auto--Best $750 I ever spent....DRIVE IT LIKE YOU STOLE IT!
Kills:93 Mustang LX (Before Mods),98 or 99 Dodge Stratus (tough one, edged out at 40),92 Camaro RS 305 TBI-Not too fair, his fuel pump went out 2 days later. Nice car, but not running right. 97+ Honda somethin or another...modded....kept at my door the entire way
Close Calls-94 Grand Am 3.1 V6, 92 Cavalier 3.1 V6
01 Porsche 911 Turbo (Had em till first gear)
Mods-Jet Stage 2 Performance Chip, Accel Cap/Rotor, Accel 8.8 MM Wires, Accell Coil, AC Delco Rapidfire Plugs, Dynomax Catback, K&N
AIM name OVRCLCK350
Best LOUSY Run...17.263 @ 77.79MPH
In a Dog Eat Dog world, I STILL go after tha cat.

 

FastRS, thanks for the compliment! It's just that when I do something or read about something, it sticks in my head... if I could memorize stuff in college that well, I'd be aceing (sp?) everything!

And yeah, sounds like the cat, definately. I drove a friend's '83 2.8 with a clogged cat; the thing had no power at all.. it couldn't get out of it's own way! It idled fine but was scary to drive.

I "second" the paperclip notion! (Although I use a piece of wire, hehe)

[edit] Hey, wait! Doesn't a very lean condition also cause the cat (& exhaust pipes) to get red hot? Could your fuel injectors be clogged, or have leaking o-rings, or something, and you're not burning enough fuel? What about timing that's too far over-advanced?

------------------
-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

[This message has been edited by TomP (edited April 10, 2001).]

 

In my instance, I was not smart enough nor educated enougt to always feel I put the wire in the correct spot.
For $30-ish, I got the hand held tool, and the book with answers.
I din't know about you guys, then, either.
i felt is was a wise investment. I can keep this toold for other cars, too, so It worked ok for me.
Hey, if are secure in doing the wire & paper clip, DEFINETLY DO IT!

You are only as smartt, as you are inspried by your teachers.
I discovered that after I left college.
I had very few inspiring teachers. Of all the ones I had.
But, those few....THANK YOU!! And I mean that.

------------------
Chat Soon,
KED85
Karl
1985 Firebird 2.8 to 3.4 swap project for Smog Happy LA, CA

 

Yeah, I just use a peice of wire too.... And so far, it's not throwing any codes. Tried disconnecting the MAF, it doesn't make any difference.

Yeah, if the car's running lean it will cause the pipes to get really hot... But I don't think that's what it is. Only the cat glows. Not the pipes. It doesn't have that rotten eggs smell, but it does definately smell like it's burning up.

Get this though.... I'm beginning to think that jumping the computer doesn't work worth a crap for setting the timing. I hooked up the light and the damn thing was off the top. Like about 22-24*! Funny thing is, I turned it down to 10 and it acted like it wanted to die. So, I have a single wire connector by the A/C Evaporator, white wire-grey clip-black(maybe brown...) w/ white stripe. Goes into what I'm guessing is the ignition coil(has a wire from dist. cap to it). Right one? (Don't think so, but maybe.) It's the only single wire connector I can find.

------------------
--'87 Camaro LT --
Currently undergoing a 2.8->3.4 swap.....

 

You are catching on why I suggested timing by ear, to get it going, then go forward with proper adjustments.
Make it smooth, back off, drive, try again.
Check eventually, if ya wanna.
I haven't yet.
I'm having to much fun blowing cars off!
And using up that one rear tire!

Only thing I'm gonna do is put in a colder range plug (it pings ever so slightly) and evntually get me a cold air indction set up.
I'm hitting the yards next week.

------------------
Chat Soon,
KED85
Karl
1985 Firebird 2.8 to 3.4 swap project for Smog Happy LA, CA

 

When my cat was clogged, my bird lost all power above 2500RPM or so and wouldn't run above 3k on the road.

Idle was smooth, revving in neutral was fine but when under any load (i.e. normal driving) the engine bogged and darn near died.

Gutted the cat and all is now good.

I had to drive the car about 200 miles w/ the clogged cat and I thought my car would not survive, but the trusty 2.8 never let me down.

Dale

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The Bird
1986 FireBird
2.8L MPFI
Gutted Cat, No muffler (Sweet Sound)
Was 700-R4 --> Now T5