I now have an 1986 2.8 mpfi camaro. Its a 5 speed and I can't get my car passed 4500 rpms . Thats when trying to redline it when racing or reving it either one its the same. Does it have a rev limiter?? if so can I change it or is it gonna stay like that. Any info will help.

 

It's your clutch
it either worn out or needs to be ajusted, mine'd doing the same thing but i can't get passed 3200rpm ans my ajustment is all the way out. So i'm getting it replaced.

 

Revving it in neutral doesn't get past 4500? Odd. Have you done any major tuneup work? Sounds like your timing is way off of spec, and the car's falling on it's face...

 

I don't think its my clutch b/c I just replaced it a few months ago and it did the same thing b4. The only tune up work I did was replace the wires and plugs. I didn't touch the rotor or cap. Should I replace that?? How can I use a timing light to set it back to spec?? or what would be the best set timing???

 

you can get a timing light real cheap at autozone for like 20.00 and you will probably use it for a long time to come.

10-12* advance seems like consensus here. at least for autos...same for manual??

 

The Haynes manual (mentioned on my Tuneup page, I just reposted it) will tell you how to check timing. One thing to note, though- our 86 motors have THREE lines in the harmonic balancer. (Later models just have one line.) When you set timing, be sure to color in the WIDEST mark with white-out (or chalk). The two thinner marks won't be for #1 TDC.

TDC = top dead center. TDC means the piston is "up" as far as it can go. Note: On our 2.8/3.1/3.4's, the #1 cylinder is the frontmost PASSENGER SIDE cylinder, not the frontmost driver's side cylinder. For just about every other GM motor, they use the frontmost driver's side as #1; not ours. Another way to notice- the #1 cylinder is always the cylinder closest to the front of the engine. If you examine the two frontmost cylinders (left & right sides), you'll see that the passenger side one is a bit closer to the front than the driver's side.

 

I would not be too sure that problem is clutch related, if a clutch goes it usually slips ie. while in gear, engine increasing speed, car is not.

I would check the timing as stated above and also look for a clogged cat. My Bird and the family Buick all had similar problems when the cat fell apart and plugged the pipe. Kick the cat and listen, if you hear it rattle, replace it. If not, replace it with a high flow one anyway

Dale

 

Just rip the cat off like I did. No emissions laws in Montana...

 

yes check the cat my step sister 80 v6 camaro did the same thing so she removed it and it was pluged with oil. it will bog the engine douwn giving low rpm and make it feel like a snail.

 

Before you slap a new cat on the car you need to find out what caused it to get cloged up. If you just put a new one you are only going to cure the symptom and it will come back. A cloged cat is usaly caused by running to rich. Some times you can tell just by looking at it. Check for discolloration on the outside of the cat. it will look like the discoloration you get on motorcycle tail pipes. At any rate I would check the timing and correct it if needed. This will keep you from having to buy a new one in a couple of months.

Cat's are designed to last the life of the car as long as the car is kept in tune / good running order.

 

Funny my 92 #1 IS the drivers side front most....