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Idling and Acceleration issues on '87 Camaro 2.8L

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Old 03-31-2019, 05:16 PM
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Car: '87 Camaro SC
Engine: 2.8L V6
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Idling and Acceleration issues on '87 Camaro 2.8L

Have been having some bad idling issues since i bought my car, and have had a hell of a time trying to figure them out. The engine shakes and runs very rough when idling in drive, and when accelerating it seems to stop and start, almost as if the engine is gaining speed in bursts. I know two of the vacuum lines coming from the canister are disconnected, and the lines are capped right past the throttle body as well. Does anyone know if this could be the cause of the issues im having? I have some pics attached below, the engine is pretty rigged up from the previous owner unfortunately.


Old 03-31-2019, 08:06 PM
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Re: Idling and Acceleration issues on '87 Camaro 2.8L

Mine isn't fully working either but sounds like vacuum lines would be a good repair to work on first. A few of my problems in my car went away once I sealed up a few leaking vacuum lines. Also, looks like you're just one town down from me so if you hear a loud engine idling rough from the north, it's probably my exhaust-less car idling in my driveway, Haha. But sorting out the vacuum lines in the car would be a good first step in resolving your issues. There are a few posts on here with diagrams for the vacuum lines for the V-6 engine.
Old 03-31-2019, 08:10 PM
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Re: Idling and Acceleration issues on '87 Camaro 2.8L

Thank you for the advice! Hopefully both of us get our engines idling right, if not theres always the old LS swap if you're local you should bring it out to a meet in the area sometime, the cruise in at Lowe's in Stuart is always a great time.
Old 03-31-2019, 08:40 PM
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Re: Idling and Acceleration issues on '87 Camaro 2.8L

I might start doing that once I get it running good enough, however long that will take. Thanks for the heads up!
Old 04-01-2019, 12:12 PM
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Re: Idling and Acceleration issues on '87 Camaro 2.8L

brake cleaner or crab spray, in short bursts to find the leak. be careful the stuff could burst inflames while running. ill be going to a vac block soon on mine. do away with all that mess.
Old 04-01-2019, 12:24 PM
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Re: Idling and Acceleration issues on '87 Camaro 2.8L

I doubt that tube going into the intake tube is sealing 100%. that could very well be a part of your problem.
Old 04-01-2019, 06:22 PM
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Re: Idling and Acceleration issues on '87 Camaro 2.8L

UPDATE: Issues have been getting worse... im going to buy new vacuum lines and replace soon. The canister lines are disconnected and capped off right now, anybody know what that means?
Old 04-02-2019, 07:54 AM
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Re: Idling and Acceleration issues on '87 Camaro 2.8L

the lines are so old and dry-rotten that they could be leaking anywhere. at least mine were.
Old 04-02-2019, 08:26 AM
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Re: Idling and Acceleration issues on '87 Camaro 2.8L

Looks like youve got a whole host of basic maintenance to do , keep at it ! Any full car pics ? Vac leak is a good place to start , that electrical tape job in the intake tube looks horrid !
Old 04-02-2019, 10:28 AM
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Re: Idling and Acceleration issues on '87 Camaro 2.8L

how high does your car idle? a vacuum leak usually means a high idle.
Old 04-02-2019, 12:35 PM
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Re: Idling and Acceleration issues on '87 Camaro 2.8L

Sometimes not always imo. Ive had horrendous issue driving with a vac leak but idled fine , guess the iac shuts up as it dosnt need to open .
Just thinking with ya
Def needs a basic service tune up either way
Old 04-02-2019, 01:11 PM
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Re: Idling and Acceleration issues on '87 Camaro 2.8L

Yeah you wanna hook up the lines correctly and look for leaks with carb cleaner. Most definitely have air going into the engine and bypassing the MAF sensor thus causing your rough idle and other issues. I would remove the intake plenum and replumb all the lines making sure there nice and tight. Do a full tuneup on your ignition system as well. New icm, cap, pick up coil, ignition coil. Spark plugs. Spark plug wires. Make sure you have an original ac delco MAF sensor as well. Other brand ones don't work.
Old 04-02-2019, 02:21 PM
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Re: Idling and Acceleration issues on '87 Camaro 2.8L

Yep, only go with AC Delco for MAFs and ICMs. And even if you have an old original AC Delco MAF, it might be bad.
Old 04-02-2019, 03:41 PM
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Re: Idling and Acceleration issues on '87 Camaro 2.8L

post deleted- wrong thread, sorry

Last edited by Sierra6; 04-03-2019 at 08:24 AM.
Old 04-02-2019, 05:20 PM
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Re: Idling and Acceleration issues on '87 Camaro 2.8L

If you have rotten vacuum lines, you have to fix that.

Its a real chore to route the lines, especially the thin, hard-plastic lines. You can pretty much count on the hard plastic shattering if you flex it at all.

Here is a link to the thread I started on the subject of dealing with my vacuum lines. I have the vacuum all buttoned-up now.
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tech...uum-lines.html
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