When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I have an 86 vette with a 90 motor, I just replaced the head gaskets, plugs, wires, distributor, injectors, timing set at 8 degrees advance. It’s hard to start when it’s sat for a little while maybe loosing fuel prime, when cold it’s running rough but once warmed up idles smooth but when you give it gas it tries to die and pops through the intake. I’ve rechecked the timing, plug wires and exhaust to see if it’s plugged checked for vacuum leaks with smoke machine and tried spraying starting fluid all around the intake while running and everything seems fine. This car was barely running when I got it which is why all the work has been done to it, but I’m currently lost on what’s wrong with it now, could it be a fuel system problem causing this issue?
tried spraying starting fluid all around the intake while running and everything seems fine.
Can you expand on this a bit more? If you are spraying fluid and the car runs better, then you have a fuel starvation issue. If you spray around the intake manifold area and the car smooths out you have a vacuum leak do to poor gasket seal.
Can you expand on this a bit more? If you are spraying fluid and the car runs better, then you have a fuel starvation issue. If you spray around the intake manifold area and the car smooths out you have a vacuum leak do to poor gasket seal.
Can you give more info?
I sprayed starting fluid around the intake to see if it made a change in idle to see if there was a vacuum leak, there was no changes in idle, I also had a smoke machine hooked up to it to check for vacuum leaks but doesn’t have any I can find using either method
From: Liliha Bakery stuffing my face with coco puffs!
I'm gonna pose the question of...is the '90 engine from a Corvette and didja swap the entire engine 1 for 1??? The '86 intake would have came with a cold start injector and the '90 would not. Unless you swapped the '86 TPI on to the '90 engine then that would be moot. The '86 engine comes with a 100k ohm knock sensor whereas the '90 engine comes with a 3.9k ohm sensor. I would not think that this would cause a start up issue but it would trigger a SES light which in turn would attribute to reduce timing off idle. Could be a '86 cast iron head vs '90 aluminum head that calls for a different spark timing map. Come to think of any of these timing issues may attribute to a pop in the intake. Confirming fuel pressure is a good idea as well.
Last edited by stew86MCSS396; Apr 8, 2023 at 02:17 AM.
Check fuel pressure!
Local auto parts stores rent guages for free, or buy one!
fuel pressure showing 23 and dropped to 22 when I revved up the engine, looks like that’s my problem or at lease one of the issue, I believe I should be around 32psi
Fuel pressure should be above 40 psi at idle and above 42 when revved.
Something in that region. I don't have my FSM in front of me at the moment.
When was the last time the fuel filter was changed?
Fuel pressure should be above 40 psi at idle and above 42 when revved.
Something in that region. I don't have my FSM in front of me at the moment.
When was the last time the fuel filter was changed?
I just changed the fuel filter today, fuel pressure went up to 25psi now with it, I just got a new fuel pump going to put that on this evening or in the morning
From: Liliha Bakery stuffing my face with coco puffs!
Wow I just read your other thread, it's interesting that it seems someone went through great lengths to put the '90 top end on the '86 engine along with the ECM so disregard the cold start injector. Knock sensor comment still applies if you're getting a code 43. I wonder if pinching off the return line would improve fuel pressure hinting that it might not be the fuel pump but if you acquired a new pump might as well change it...