ok guys, I need any help/advice I can get. I've got a 93 T/A t-topped, 6-speed manual. I went to take my wife to work this morning, no problems. Then I went to take my son to the laundrymate and it wouldn't run, it would start (kinda) but it ran like the African Queen, in other words it ran and sounded like a deasil, and I couldn't get of out of the driveway, it would die out period. Anyone have any ideas, it's stock, no after market products except for a Ram powergrip plus clutch. To add insult to injury the 6-speed is such a rare option for 93 they don't even list it at places like autozone or advance.
Any ideas or advice would greatly be appriciated, this is the only car I own right now and I'm the only one in the family that even drives so everyone is dependant on me to get evryone to work and such, plus I'm a disabled vet (lost my right leg 2 yrs ago!!!!
Again Thanks again in advance!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ron

 

How many miles are on it? Any codes? Maybe the fuel pump is going out or the dreaded optispark. Might have to test the fuel pressure to eliminate that if there's no opti related codes.

 

I'd look at your fuel pump and/or optispark. Fuel pump you can rent or buy a fuel pressure gauge to see where your pressure is at. If your fuel pressure is good you may have a rotor that has come loose in the opti spark. This would require taking the opti apart and applying loc-tite on the tiny screws which old the rotor in place. You can find out how to do all that by doing a search on this forum as well as: www.shbox.com

Good luck.

 

I replaced the optispark this past January (6th one in 5yrs) along with the coil, and ecm. Fuel pump I replaced 2 yrs ago, only 16k on the fuel pump so, I'm stumped to say the least. Now I have got it to run (at idle) but as soon as you try to move it dies out so, stumped again!!!!!

 

Check fuel pressure.

 

More than one opti per year is pretty bad....where are you getting your optis from? If your using non GM or MSD; then that's your opti problem right there... That or the rotor came off due to lack of locktiting

 

Check your fuel pressure for sure. Can't ever really count out the opti, but usually they just cause the car to run very sputter like. They'll still run pretty bad and misfire etc. when they finally die they go out with a very loud bang. My bet is the fuel pump going out or fuel pressure regulator. If it is, make sure and do the trap door mod and save your self hours of trouble! https://ls1tech.com/forums/lt1-lt4-modifications/1256372-fuel-pump-trap-door-mod-pics.html in case you need it!
Oh btw make sure you take the fuel pressure gauge of when the cars off. I've see many of people get sprayed with hot fuel

 

I know one thing, I've got another engine to put in it next month. With all the trouble this LT1 has given me since I got the car, I'm gonna go ahead and put my Pontiac engine in it. At least I know what it can and cannot do, plus you can't beat the torque you can pull out of a Pontiac engine!!!!!

 

Oh boy. Now you've done it. Put your flame suite on.

 

Pontiac T/A from 93-97 share the same LT1 engine your talking about now... Putting the "high torque pontiac" engine in your Trans am, still is going to run because your fuel pump is more than likely bad.
Don't fix things that aren't broken.

 

Pretty sure he's talking about a "real" pontiac engine....as in a 400 or 455; been done, this guy ditched his LS1 for one....

https://ls1tech.com/forums/pontiac-f...ac-engine.html

 

Why do people go BACKWARDS in time? As awesome as old school American muscle is, I'd bet any mildly built LT1/LS1 against any older small block/ big block, even if there a little hopped up, I doubt they could hang unless they're built hardcore.

 

Start with checking the fuel pressure. Followed by your spark.

I know the 93 cars didn't have the revised venting on the optispark that the 95 and later cars did.

Was it raining the day it started acting up? I've seen where a large puddle and a bad o-ring lead to issues with the optisparks.

 

It's not going backwards, there's new tech for old stuff too, Brand new block on up!!! They can and do smoke alot of LS and LT!'s out there. I'm not trying to knock them by any means, they are awesome engines but one thing you've also got to concider, I've been building Pontiac engines since I was 13, in the late 70s lol. Yes I'm old and missing body parts but I aint dead lol

 

btw this LT1 still aint running, I've checked the fuel pressure, replaced the opti spark,coil and ICM, What about the TPS or Map sensor, you think they might be the problem?

 

engines need 3 things to run.

fuel, compression, spark.

If you've verified fuel pressure, check the other 2.

scan tool also helps. this will tell you what the computer is seeing.

http://www.camaroz28.com/forums/comp...95-lt1-874306/

 

You never answered what brand opti you replaced with....by this deliberate omission of vital information, I must assume you bought a poorly manufactured Chinese optispark from auto zone/advance/napa/oriely/whatever causing your car not to run

 

If someone wants to try something new go for it. But it sounds like it is your only car I would hate to make a leap like that. I doubt if it will be a weekend project. me personally am not a fan of the older "other" Gm engines. They are a pain to try to find parts for and cost twice as much to rebuild as something common. a guy brought us an old Pontiac(forgot what size) to the shop a few months ago and wanted it rebuild to go back in an old Pontiac car. Cylinders were nasty and the only thing made was a .020 over pistion or something odd like that. Needless to say he didn't want to sleeve 8 holes so he came got it and is looking for another block.

 

Another poor lt1 bites the dust!
The man can do as he pleases, still wish people wouldn't give up on LT1's as easily as they do.

 

The computers in the 92-93 LT1's can be a rats nest of trouble.