Rubicant112

Hello, I'm new to this site. I'm also a noob when it comes to cars.

I have an 83 Firebird S/E with the LG4. Got rid of the 305, and now has a 350 from an older Monte Carlo. A lot of vacuum lines are not plugged up, and since I know very little about car, the vacuum diagram means nothing to me. I tried plugging them in to what I thought looked right, but the car runs like garbage and has been since the engine was put in. All new distributor, rotor, cap, plugs, wires, MAP sensor, O2 sensor, and probably a few other things I'm forgetting. It's still the original Quadrajet, and it seems to be fine, no choke light or anything. It likes to stall, and it feels like I have no power. I don't really understand the letters on the Carb on the vac diagram, and was wondering if someone could point me in the right direction.

There's also this ticking noise when I'm driving down the road, but not sure what's doing it, but it sounds like it's coming from the engine area. My oil gauge doesn't move at all, and my temp gauge goes to max very fast, like after a few minutes of driving, but it's not overheating. And when I use overdrive, when it hits 2nd gear, I basically loose all power, and flooring it does nothing. Drive works fine, though. It's not the original 700R4, but it "should" be an 700R4 from what I was told.

I've had this car for 7+ years, and all of this just started after the motor was put in. I don't know if the guy did a crappy job, or what. I just want my baby back to normal.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Vader

Welcome aboard!

The first thing to do is determine the source of the ticking noise and reason the oil pressure gauge does not indicate. You need to verify that there is adequate oil pressure before driving the car or running the engine under any kind of load whatsoever. If serious damage has not already been done, you need to prevent that by establishing oil pressure.

We'll be waiting...

Rubicant112

Thanks!

I don't know if it's that I'm not getting pressure, or the gauge not working. I get this strange buzzing noise coming out of the dashboard while I'm driving, so maybe there's a short or something.

The ticking noise gets faster as I accelerate more. I did get 3 SES codes: one was for my VSS, other was oxygen sensor circuit, and the last one was no distributor reference pulses to ECM with engine running. Don't know if that helps to diagnose anything.

Vader

The ticking noise is another sign that oil pressure may be low. You really need to verify that before driving it further. You can connect a mechanical pressure gauge at several places.

Rubicant112

I changed my oil switch, now my gauge works. AZ fixed a few of my vacuum lines, and it seems a little better.

Rubicant112

Still get the ticking noise, and my check engine codes are still taunting me.

JimKlim

I have somewhat of the same problem can anyone help me? I have an 84" Z28 305 in it, I was driving the other day and it was running perfect, it was late at night about 45 degrees outside and then all of a sudden it started to bog down. I would hit the gas and the choke light would come on and then if I tap the gas or floor it, it would run sluggish until it hit the gear, then it would do it again. When the car is in park it idles at 5rpms perfectly and also I can rev the engine and it runs perfect but as soon as I switch it into gear it will either die out or rumble and choke for power. Any suggestions? I recently took out all of the A.I.R. system w/ smog pump and the A/c components including the compressor. I check all possible vacuum leaks, I plugged the eight holes on the manifolds from where the air check valves were connected I am stumped.