1979 camaro 305 prob!

I have a 1979 camaro w/ a 305 cid v8... The engine dosent have the power it should have!!! I put a new carb., plugs, and wires. And it also has a rough idle... it has since bought it... Someone has been into the moter b4 i got it! spent lots of time trying to tune the moter... I dont know if it has a exhaust restiction, bad cam but when i fire the engine cold it seems like the engine is choking and it runs quiet, even if you stand behind the exhaust but when it warms up the exhaust becomes louder and louder, Does this sound like a plugged cat??? And I hung a bag right by the tip of the exhaust pipe, It blows the bag out and then it sucks it back in for a split sec. but it only does this once every 3 sec... Do I have a bad cam??? Or exhaust restriction???.... Or did someone put a cam in it??? HELP!!!!!

Well, first, a 3,800 lb. car with a 305 in it isn't going to make much "power". Even with 350, they were woefully under-powered.

If it's "sucking back" through the exhaust, you probably have a burned exhaust valve. Possibly the valve has been adjusted too tight.

Have a "leakage test" done to find the offending cylinder. A valve job will probably be needed to correct the problem. If the short block has a lot of miles on it, putting "fresh" heads on it could adversely affect the rings, creating an oil "eater". You may consider rebuilding the entire engine, OR, just put a 350 or larger in it for the power you really want! These cars start to "wake up" when you go to a 383 or 406... It really takes a big block to make them run real well. Just too damn heavy!

Jim

Now the camaro runs like a dream with no rhyme or reasion... o-well, ill run it till it blows.... Thanx