Hello,
I have an 87 El Camino SS with a mildly built 305 (performer intake, matching cam mild(RV),Thorley Tri Y headers, Dual Snorkel Intake,ZZ4 chip). I have noticed under certain conditions that it will surge, for example under full power with the A/C on in 2nd gear and 3rd gear I'll get a surge every once in a while not always. To me under normal and full it feels like something is holding back all the power from bieng realeasd to the tires but when the surge happens the feeling is "that's the power that should always be avaiable". My SS has a 200r4 tranny, it does not seem to slip, the shifts are a little "mushy" but not to bad. Does anybody have any idea why this is happening? Also, after thinking about it a bit the A/C thing could be the clutch(a/c) engaging/diengaging, the problem is when that happens the power feels like normal/better than normal NOT normal/can't get out of it's own shadow. When the a/c is not on i.e. normal, it feels loke something is always holding back the true potential of the mods. For the "mushy" shifts I can adjust the TV cable which works for a while but eventually goes back to the "mushy" shift. Any ideas would be great as this problem has been going on for a while, whats worse is me Dads 87 elky non SS feels and runs like it has more power than mine (I just can't have that).

August

P.S.
I've looked thru all the vacum lines and replaced any that were suspect, I think they are all good, I do not here any vacum leaks while running or after shutting off.

Check the fuel pump pressure. It sounds to me like it could be a fuel delivery problem. :)

I never even thought it might be that. I'll check it out. On that same note, the reason I went to a dual snorkel intake was everytime I removed the air intake lid there was a strong smell of gas and my milage was/is terrible averaging about 11mpg. This is my first week with the new intake and chip so far it's looking like it's doing better on the milage side but I wont know exactly until the tank gets closer to empty. Am I on the right track or might it be something else causing this, possibly the fuel pump as you mentioned? I did put in a new carb a while ago as it was cheaper than rebuilding, that cured quite a few problems, since I'm in CA I need to stick with the E4ME carb. Thanks again for the help.

Hey August -- Always let your Dad's Elky be a little better and a little faster than yours, even if it isn't so. It'll make him feel better and you will probably have him more likely to open his wallet to you for your improvements and repairs. Learn to use "parent psychology" just like him used child psychology when you were too yound to drive. Play it smart.. and good luck on fixing that problem.

You have a 200R4 (AKA 4L80) "new knowledge" and you've changed the intake etc... Did you go back and readjust the TV cable? It sounds like there is an adjustment issue, to me, with the TV cable or it could be a torque converter issue. My money is on the TV adjustment. Check this page out;

http://www.tvmadeez.com/article/

John,
While what you say is true, At my age (37), I'm paying for my own stuff, have been for quite a few years. I whish he would offer to pay but I don't see that happening anytime soon :cool: . Elkypete, I will recheck my TV cable tonight, if I remember clicking in will make it hold the gear longer? or is it the other way around ? Thanks for the help.


August

John,
While what you say is true, At my age (37), I'm paying for my own stuff, have been for quite a few years. I whish he would offer to pay but I don't see that happening anytime soon :cool: . Elkypete, I will recheck my TV cable tonight, if I remember clicking in will make it hold the gear longer? or is it the other way around ? Thanks for the help.


August

John,
While what you say is true, At my age (37), I'm paying for my own stuff, have been for quite a few years. I whish he would offer to pay but I don't see that happening anytime soon :cool: . Elkypete, I will recheck my TV cable tonight, if I remember clicking in will make it hold the gear longer? or is it the other way around ? Thanks for the help.
August

Really from what I've read you really should go through the process of "Setting" the TV. It is not a passing gear like on a THM 350. It sends the transmission signals to let it know where and when to shift. If it is out really bad you could be destroying the tranny as you drive. There are no "Adjustments" to that system. It is either set or not.

Good luck.

ElkyPete,
Thanks for the info, I checked to make sure my TV was set coerrectly and it was. Maybe a torque converter issue as you have suggested? How could I go about checking that?

August

You could have a transmission shop check it, that is about the only way to make sure if it is good or bad.

If at higher RPM you put your foot down and the engine sounds like its doing something and the truck doesn't translate that into forward motion, then my guess is Torque converter. It can also vibrate really hard at some RPMs and not in others or at all RPMs. All can be symptomatic of bad converter but not exclusively. There could be another reason(s).