damn v6 problems

[big2003viper]

Just bought a 79 el camino and it hates me. it's supposed to be 8 degrees BTDC. However, as soon as I get it there, it starts to sputter and idle like crap. any advice or ideas?

[BillyJack]

Have you disconnected the vacuum advance while checking timing?

Bill

[dougs85]

Yeah, and plug the vacuum hose.

Doug

[big2003viper]

yes, i did all that

[El_Ron84]

You might check to see if carb bolts need to be tightened, along with the intake manifold bolts, may take care of it.

[steelybill]

Does the harmonic balancer have any run-out or wobble ?? That scenario is common when the rim of the balancer has slipped on it's rubber mounting on the hub. The timing marks on it will be useless if it has slipped. I would just back off the timing until it runs good, and see how it works on the road.
Otherwise, if you find that it's slipped, get a new one.

[woody31]

you may also have slop in the timing chain, try setting it by ear then road test if it knocks under heavy load take some timing out of it till it quits. hope this helps woody out

[big2003viper]

also, i might want to ad that the carb pops when i bring the rpms up from idle.

[big2003viper]

i have not done anything to the distributor since i got it, just try and time it. I tried to time it cuz the carb was poping gas out the top.

[matty man]

I have not done anything to the distributor since i got it, just try and time it. I tried to time it cuz the carb was poping gas out the top.

Since you just bought this car then start with a complete tune up, new plugs wires, cap, rotor, plugs, air filter, canister filter, oil change, and if this was done before you bought it check all of the basic items, dont go by "the prevoius owner had it all done before". Check the firing order, if its popping through the carb its either a plug wire crossing over to another, firing order is off or a burnt valve or broken rocker arm. Check all of that, wont take long or bring the car to us and we will install a crate GM engine for ya, 350 or 383 stroker or a 502 if you want, let us know on what ya find, matty man

[big2003viper]

matty, were are you located exactly?

[matty man]

We are in Columbus, Ohio, Grove City, just below the city, I work 2 jobs, first is the Ohio Air National Guard working on the KC-135R Aircraft and then part time at Classic Resurrection Hot Rod shop, 2160 Southwest Blvd in Grove City, I see your a little bit of a drive away from us, but we have cars from all over the US in the shop, you can check their web site, I think it is www.classicresurrection.com
let us know what you find out on your V-6 and give me a call in the evening if you need any info or help, my cell is 614-595-2875 or the shop # is 614-539-5658, matty man

[big2003viper]

damn, I was hoping you were closer to me than ohio. I'm in sacramento, ca. what I'm really looking for is a place or person that can let me use a garage to do a 350 swap on my el camino.

[bonos40]

Matty:
check the compression, and possibly do a leak down test. My v-6 ran the same way, lo,and behold the cam had eaten itself. I guess this was a part of the soft cam craz in the late70's and 80's. On day it was running fine ,than it began to lose power,started to sputter, and ran terrible over the course of two weeks,pulled the cam two lobes rounded, two plugs fouled .......Total Rebuild !

[woody31]

if all else fails find a good used 350 if you can or if your budget allows pop for a crate motor cant go wrong any horsepower you can afford plus a warranty.