My brand new (relatively, of course) was running quite well when I got it, but had a bent in rear wheel. After I fixed that, I drove it around a bit, and I was really surprised that it would "bark" the tires when I shifted into second. No, not speed shifting. yesterday, I parked it outside my garage and took the spark plugs out for cleaning. I cleaned them, gapped them at .045 and put them back in. Plug wires are on at the right places. It turned over, popped a few times, seemingly on one cylinder, and spun real fast, but as soon as I let go of the key, it died. Now it won't even pop. I used a spark plug on each wire and I know they spark. But the plugs come out wet almost every time with gas. So my questions are:
1: Just how powerful is a 2.8? My block is yellow and I was wondering if it might be a 3.1 or 3.4. Should I be able to spin the tires when I shift?
2: Why would it run, and then stop?

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--Andrew

Check the coil wire. Check the two connectors on the top of the coil, and check the wires that plug in to the ignition module on the side of the distributor. Sometimes the plastic clips are broken off, and it's possible to knock one of those loose, and not even know it. Especially if you've been tugging on plug wires.

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Raydar

88 3.4 coupe. 17s, cut springs 'n all.

Thanks. I'll check it out

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--Andrew

A 2.8 should chirp the tires just fine. I can chirp them into second all day long, and I can chirp on a 5-3 downshift going about 45-50. As long as you land near the torque peak, the 2.8 can be fun like that