Losing power please help (Page 1/3) Fire hazard SEP 21, 12:39 AM I’ve got a 87 GT 5 speed with a 2.8 that I just dropped in. I just got the timing done and it’s now idling around 900 rpms. When it’s in neutral it will rev fine and return to idle. Noticing no other problems I decided to take it for a test drive. Car seemed fine in first gear. However, when I shifted into second I noticed it had lost some power. By third gear, the car would not accelerate at all. In fact, I held the throttle to the floor and the car didn’t rev at all. I only drove it to the end of my road and back (luckily I made it back). When I shut the car off the manifolds were glowing cherry red. There was no smoke or anything terrible sounds coming. It just seems that when the car is engaged in gear it no longer will rev up. Anybody have a clue as to what this could be? 1987 Trans Am SEP 21, 12:46 AM Is the check engine light on at all? Glowing manifolds kind of makes me think that you're dumping fuel like crazy..... Fire hazard SEP 21, 12:52 AM Check engine light isn’t on. Should also add that the coolant temp was around 160F. Patrick SEP 21, 01:03 AM quote Originally posted by Fire hazard: By third gear, the car would not accelerate at all. My '86 GT wouldn't rev past 2000 or so RPM on the highway when its cat disintegrated and plugged up solid. The engine bay got very hot. olejoedad SEP 21, 07:01 AM Glowing manifolds and loss of power are indicative of the timing being off. fieroguru SEP 21, 07:51 AM quote Originally posted by olejoedad: Glowing manifolds and loss of power are indicative of the timing being off. X2 Balancer ring might have slipped. Add a few more degrees of timing and see if it improves power. Fire hazard SEP 21, 09:15 AM quote Originally posted by Patrick: My '86 GT wouldn't rev past 2000 or so RPM on the highway when its cat disintegrated and plugged up solid. The engine bay got very hot. I currently don’t have the full exhaust on, just the Y pipe. Patrick SEP 21, 03:48 PM quote Originally posted by Fire hazard: I currently don’t have the full exhaust on, just the Y pipe. I think we can pretty well rule out a plugged cat then. Fire hazard SEP 21, 06:36 PM quote Originally posted by Patrick: I think we can pretty well rule out a plugged cat then. Haha yeah. I was playing around with the timing a bit. When the timing is set to 10* the car sounds good at idle but when I press on the throttle the car stalls out. I’m thinking I have a vacuum leak somewhere but what do you guys think? Patrick SEP 21, 07:23 PM quote Originally posted by Fire hazard: When the timing is set to 10*... It's worthwhile asking.,. The ALDL jumper is in place while the timing is being set, correct?