Help Me out here guys

[FoMoCo1]

my buddies car is having some problems.....basically the car runs and feels like there is a huge exhaust leak.......BUT we have checked all possible places where an exhaust leak could occur ( we think)( more suggestions welcomed :) ) the car idles funny and is popping like popcorn through the intake everyonce in awhile....we have swapped intakes...2 times and the same thing keeps happening....swapped TB's swapped valve covers...you name it we've done it....any suggestions would be appreciated...

thanks

Clint

[HangNail]

timing? ignition?

[FoMoCo1]

timing is set at 10 the car has stock ignition

[illfated]

a "buddy" of mine had that same problem on his camaro.... turned out that tha mofo 1) had his ignition timing off and 2) didnt know what tha hell he was doin :D

i would check tha timing again..... other than that i dont have any ideas.

[Saleen91]

Sounds like the timing is way retarded or you have a serious vacuum leak (lower intake gaskets maybe).

[HangNail]

when i popped the timing belt on my corolla and replaced it i mistakenly set the crank to the wrong timing mark. i retarded the timing by probably 10 deg. the car ran ok at very low rpms, but anything over say 1000 rpm was terrible, the intake noise was very loud, and the car was very slow. this kind of sounds like whats goin on, or possibly the ignition timing. i dunno. just a thought. =)

[FoMoCo1]

thanks for the ideas...the car also has no throttle response

[89 coupe]

Originally posted by FoMoCo1
thanks for the ideas...the car also has no throttle response

What kind of car does you friend have?
Does this car have converter's? or maybe a single exhaust?
If timing and fuel pressure check ok you may have a clogged converter. This will cause the symptoms you are describing and is missed diagnosed by many.
Give us some more info and I will try to help.

[FoMoCo1]

its an 88 LX with a 5 speed
we've checked timing...and changed plugs twice

[Wild Stallion]

Well sounds to me like he has a worn out timing chain and sprockets. Does the timing mark walk back and forwards a lot when the light is on it? Something else I just thought of is either a worn Distibutor/dist gear, and the spout connector is loose/not in.

[FoMoCo1]

the problem ended up being a mass air wiring problem...its was an 88 SD car converted to mass air...who ever did the conversion didnt get the wires tight