[mikebert]

Hey all, I just got done putting the engine back together - worked GT40Ps, Edelbrock upper and lower, 70mm TB and EGR. Waiting for the 24# maf so I can throw the injectors in but I'm trying to get it running with the stock 19# setup right now.

It took a lot of fiddling around (because I was braindead when we set it the first time) but we're at the point where the engine will turn on and start but you have to keep giving it gas or it dies. The timing is good at 10* BTDC with the spout out. The throttle response is horrible and it may be a half second before hitting pedal and seeing a rise in RPM; the first time we got it running I accidentally took it about 3500 RPM... . at 10 pm. Whoops. The neighbors have always been nice about my car endeavors and haven't called the cops yet.

Anyways, I was just looking for some insight. I would think it's timing, but I want to know what you guys say. It'll run if you keep giving it some gas but if you don't the RPMs will just fall to 0. This is my second timing yanking the heads and putting it back together, and I can't think of anything I missed, but reassembly has effectively been a one man show, so I wouldn't put it past me to miss something.

For the record, I've been at this five days from start to finish. We have set heat records here each of those five days, one of which made us the hottest place in the United States according to the National Weather Service. I like working on my car, but this shit is for losers.

[superman5.0]

what kind of cam are you running?

[mikebert]

It's an E cam - I put that in a year ago and I didn't take off the timing chain cover this go around so none of that should be affected, timing wise. Just had to pull the distributor for this one.

[superman5.0]

oh ok well i know that with an ecam the suggested timing is 14 but i had that then kicked it down to 12 and runs perfectly, maybe try puttin yours at 12 and see what happens?

[mikebert]

I didn't know that the suggested time was 14*, but I'll try that when it's up and running.

But the engine should at least idle if I'm at stock. It just dies unless you keep giving it gas. I was about to get off my duff and go look at it again to see if I have any better luck troubleshooting today.

[mikebert]

Ok, here's an update. .. .

I went out there and screwed around with it some more. One thing I did not say in the first is that after you run the engine and turn the key off, you can hear a tick from the upper engine. They come about one second apart and the interval slowly gets longer before they stop. My dad says it sounds like it's starving for fuel, but we have no gauges to check it with. So I eventually pulled the inertia switch in the back and tried to turn the engine on - it wouldn't even cough. Now, when I intentionally depressurize the fuel system it takes about 3 seconds for the engine to stop running. But for some reason I (apparently) have no fuel pressure after I turn the engine off.

We pulled the upper and took out all the injectors and rails. I didn't oil the o-rings like I should when I installed all this stuff (shame on me) so I oiled them this time and put them back in. One (1) injector cap has a crack about 50% of the circumference where the top flare meets the cylindrical wall of the cap. It was like that when I pulled it out and it's an old crack (black crap caked in along the fracture) so please don't say the easy solution is to replace the cap. But I put everything back together and damn near sat on top of the rails when we bolted them in to make sure the injectors were deeply seated in the intake.

We put all that crap back together and cranked it and it does the exact same thing. Cranks, dies. Ticks. Cranks, runs while you feed it gas, dies. Ticks. I swear to God I'm one more sweat filled afternoon from putting all the stock shit back on it and riveting the hood down.

Any help?

[superman5.0]

i dunno but it seems somehow its not keeping the fuel going, do you know if the fuel pressure is good? maybe if you have an AFPR you should tweek it a bit, and what about the fuel pump running good?

[mikebert]

I don't have AFPR. I said I don't have any tools to check the fuel pressure. Fuel pump is fine because it always starts and even after I pull the rails and injectors, I prime the system with the pump and it fires right up. I have a 255lph pump sitting in the draw anyway. I was interested to know if anyone who has some experience with this thinks that the ticking is the fuel pressure bleeding down.

[JBIGBOOTSY]

when I put a 255 on It effed up my regulator pretty good, the car would run and sparatically the fuel press would fall off, that was also audioble when listening to the engine running.

[86GT50]

Do you have a stock computer or a chip????? With your mods your going to need either a tuner or a chip burned to overwright the stock computer settings. I had the same problem when I did my rebuild, the computer was still set at the stock crap but the motor needed more, I had a chip burned from Bob Kurgan & that got the ball rolling.... GET A FPR & A GUAGE.... without it your just shooting in the dark, once you can adjust it as well as adjust your throttle screw you should be able to clear up the problem. Mine did not want to idle & the pressure was either too low or too high until I got a guage & FPR & played around with it.

[mikebert]

Originally Posted by 86GT50 Do you have a stock computer or a chip????? With your mods your going to need either a tuner or a chip burned to overwright the stock computer settings. I had the same problem when I did my rebuild, the computer was still set at the stock crap but the motor needed more, I had a chip burned from Bob Kurgan & that got the ball rolling.... GET A FPR & A GUAGE.... without it your just shooting in the dark, once you can adjust it as well as adjust your throttle screw you should be able to clear up the problem. Mine did not want to idle & the pressure was either too low or too high until I got a guage & FPR & played around with it.

I highly doubt that I need a chip or tune with a naturally aspirated 302.

But yeah, I need the gauge atleast to see what's going on. I originally thought that the fuel may be coming out of the injectors, but now that I read what you guys said, it may be the FPR. Is there any way to tell which it would be leaking from?

[Tony_90fox]

Damn dude, i had a helluva time getting mine running, and i couldnt get it to run either....I took mine to a local performance shop and the guy finished it up...

You dont need a chip burnt or anything...But a tune (when you get it running) would be awesome...

You need to get the AFPR and gauge like others have said...Dont mess with the BBk crap, get a Kirban or Aeromotive.

You sound like you know what you are doing, but have you tried stabbing the distributor one tooth clockwise or counter-clockwise? Might help if you havent.

Keep us updated man.

[mikebert]

Originally Posted by Tony_90fox Keep us updated man.

Here's the update. I'm fucking tired of this car. And of course when I have a problem, nobody knows shit about it. Where do all the gurus go when I post?

Does anyone want to buy a 1990GT 5.0 AOD to T5, all black interior. Ported and milled GT40Ps (no smog), E303 with good springs, Edelbrock upper and lower, 70mm EGR and TB, CAI, 24# injectors, JBA shorty headers, adjustable fuel pressure regulator, Flowmasters, under drive, 140A alternator, electric fan (not installed), firewall clutch adjuster. Cranks but won't idle. Some interior pieces are not installed but they go with the car. PM me.

[86GT50]

Dude, do not give up!!!!!!!! I went through exactly the same thing..... did you adjust your idle on the throttle body??? did you get an adjustable fuel regulator?????? Have you checked that your EGR is working correctly????? Take the car to a local performance shop & have them take a look at it...... BUT DONT GIVE UP......... YOU KNOW YOU LOVE YOUR CAR........

[Tony_90fox]

I agree...Dude, i rode a bicycle EVERYWHERE for almost a month because i couldnt get my car right, then took it to a performance shop...

Stick with it, call around...ask and give EVERY detail on other sites..Corral being a good one...

Trust me, i was ready to call it quits too but in the end i am happy...

[mikebert]

Originally Posted by 86GT50 YOU KNOW YOU LOVE YOUR CAR........

Used to.

Originally Posted by Tony_90fox Trust me, i was ready to call it quits too but in the end i am happy...

Doesn't matter. I already knew it was faster than most everything on the street that didn't cost $40,000+. I've had these parts laying around for months but I put them on now when I got out of school. If it takes a day to put everything on the car and a week to find what retarded thing isn't right, I don't care. I enjoy working on it. Accomplishing shit. If I wanted to troubleshoot for 8 hours a day (what I've been doing) I'd get an ASE patch and sign up with Pepboys. I have never before in my life understood why carbed systems were so appealing, but I do now. Six vacuum lines, five sensors, eight injectors, then multiply that total by two to check that each connection or line going to or from that works, That's assuming the sensors work properly and the computer works. Fuck it.

[Tony_90fox]

Good luck with whatever you do man!

[mikebert]

Originally Posted by Tony_90fox Good luck with whatever you do man!

Thanks. I'll probably just disappear from MM for good, maybe check to see if anyone wants the car. Good times guys.

[Tony_90fox]

send me pics and a price

anthony.arbuckle927@wku.edu

[mikebert]

Ok, I need one last favor. I can't sell the car until it runs. I want to check my fuel pressure but I don't know where to hook it up. I swear to you, I'm dead serious here. I have two complete fuel rails sitting in my lap and there is no schrader valve on them. There's nothing on them. The incoming fuel line, the return line, the fuel pressure regulator platform and eight fuel injector cups. I looked at both, my dad looked at both, unless we're both blind I don't see the schrader valve. Where the hell is it????

EDIT: I know there is at least one person here with one installed (can't remember the user name) so is there any way I could get pics?