1988 suburban - need help - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

kerjer19 · 11-19-2004, 11:08 PM

I was looking at buying a neighbors 1988 suburban 350ci 4wd. It starts fine and idle greats. However after putting it in gear it does not want to accelerate. It will get up to about 30 mph. He says he thinks its the fuel system. I was wondering if anybody could possibly give me a clue as to what it may be. Thanks

Kerjer19

*gn4u2c* · 11-19-2004, 11:39 PM

sounds more like timing or cam issue. If it was a fuel problem it would run great then just die out real quick (completly) not hit 30 and just hang there. Is the tranny shifting ok? check the fluid. check the base timing set to 8 btc (best power ) force advance and monitor it to see if all is well there.
I would assume it is efi and stock unmodified. If it has been changed post up so we know what we are dealing with.

Bowties · 11-19-2004, 11:48 PM

My guess is a clogged catalytic convertor or otherwise restricted exhaust. My wife's Saab acted the same way and that's what it tuned out to be. Good Luck!

kerjer19 · 11-20-2004, 12:14 AM

Thanks for the advice. I will look at those areas next time I get over there. As far as mods, there are none. Still stock with TBI. Again thanks for the info.

*gn4u2c* · 11-20-2004, 11:05 AM

convertor is good advise also the will get red hot when driving if bad.

*bisquik65* · 11-23-2004, 05:21 PM

That is a common problem with the 350 tbi engines . Your problem is in the distributor. Pull it out and change it. Try to turn it out of the motor and it will be tight. Look at the flat base on it and its probally bent from a motor being changed. The chain hits the base and will bend it up. . I had one give me that same problem and i spent a ton of money on it and nothing changed,Swaped the dist. and that was it.

mrdood · 04-08-2005, 04:21 PM

FYI ... I know this is an Older thread, BUT, in my own quest to find this single wire connector to disconnect for setting the Base Timing, I have been looking on the PASSENGER Side (I was off by about 2.5 feet) .... My connector was on the DRIVERS side engine compartment firewall near the windsheild wiper motor.

ragtopcamarovt · 05-05-2005, 10:58 PM

Just another thought.

Symptoms mean a lot when diagnosing a car problem. However I still try the easy things first just incase. Fuel filter especially on a fuel injected motor can cause a very sluggish motor.

Gus

Bob Gervais · 05-06-2005, 06:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gn4u2c

sounds more like timing or cam issue. If it was a fuel problem it would run great then just die out real quick (completly) not hit 30 and just hang there. Is the tranny shifting ok? check the fluid. check the base timing set to 8 btc (best power ) force advance and monitor it to see if all is well there.
I would assume it is efi and stock unmodified. If it has been changed post up so we know what we are dealing with.

8 degrees? Any problems with detonation setting it there? Does it really make that big of an improvement?

11-19-2004, 11:08 PM	#1
kerjer19 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6	1988 suburban - need help I was looking at buying a neighbors 1988 suburban 350ci 4wd. It starts fine and idle greats. However after putting it in gear it does not want to accelerate. It will get up to about 30 mph. He says he thinks its the fuel system. I was wondering if anybody could possibly give me a clue as to what it may be. Thanks Kerjer19

04-08-2005, 04:21 PM	#7
mrdood Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Carson, WA Posts: 1	FYI ... I know this is an Older thread, BUT, in my own quest to find this single wire connector to disconnect for setting the Base Timing, I have been looking on the PASSENGER Side (I was off by about 2.5 feet) .... My connector was on the DRIVERS side engine compartment firewall near the windsheild wiper motor. __________________ 1979 K5, 4x4, 400 w/edlebrock intake/carb, NP203, 6" suspension, bushwacker fullcut-out flares, 37x14.5-15 Toyo M/T, skyjacker dual stabilizers, pro-comp nitro9000 shocks, Hooker Headers-2.5" dual exhaust w/X-pipe, and more to come. Last edited by mrdood; 04-08-2005 at 04:27 PM.

11-19-2004, 11:39 PM	#2
gn4u2c Account Suspended Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: southern pa Posts: 698	sounds more like timing or cam issue. If it was a fuel problem it would run great then just die out real quick (completly) not hit 30 and just hang there. Is the tranny shifting ok? check the fluid. check the base timing set to 8 btc (best power ) force advance and monitor it to see if all is well there. I would assume it is efi and stock unmodified. If it has been changed post up so we know what we are dealing with.

11-19-2004, 11:48 PM	#3
Bowties Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 20	My guess is a clogged catalytic convertor or otherwise restricted exhaust. My wife's Saab acted the same way and that's what it tuned out to be. Good Luck!

11-20-2004, 12:14 AM	#4
kerjer19 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6	Thanks for the advice. I will look at those areas next time I get over there. As far as mods, there are none. Still stock with TBI. Again thanks for the info.

11-20-2004, 11:05 AM	#5
gn4u2c Account Suspended Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: southern pa Posts: 698	convertor is good advise also the will get red hot when driving if bad.

11-23-2004, 05:21 PM	#6
bisquik65 Account Suspended Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: N.C. high country Posts: 6,107	That is a common problem with the 350 tbi engines . Your problem is in the distributor. Pull it out and change it. Try to turn it out of the motor and it will be tight. Look at the flat base on it and its probally bent from a motor being changed. The chain hits the base and will bend it up. . I had one give me that same problem and i spent a ton of money on it and nothing changed,Swaped the dist. and that was it.

05-05-2005, 10:58 PM	#8
ragtopcamarovt Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 3	Just another thought. Symptoms mean a lot when diagnosing a car problem. However I still try the easy things first just incase. Fuel filter especially on a fuel injected motor can cause a very sluggish motor. Gus



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