1980 Z-28 Help!!!!!! - Page 2

Elizabeth Ann · #16 03-29-2006, 08:04 AM

Hi there, seems to drag thru all the gears, the tach is way high, but can feel it shifting into gears with no problem, then in 4th gear there is no power, the engine is straining, I'm beginning to think that my emergency brake is stuck or something, the so called mechanic that worked on it replaced hardware and pads, but drove her to work today and the emergency brake pedal is down and will not stay up, it was loose before he worked on it and I tied it up, otherwise the brake light would come on, the brake light didn't come on today, the E brake has never worked, can I take it off? Would I have to bleed the brakes if this is done?

wrightz28 · #17 03-29-2006, 09:38 AM

Alright, that's kinda what I was getting at as to when the problem is noticable. If the brake is dragging that bad, you should smell the shoe lining getting pretty hot (same smell as a burnt clutch). The only other way toconfrim is to pull the brake drums off and look for "blueing" of the drum that would indicate it's been heated up. The shoe surface wuold also look brittle as wel not to mention stink.

As for removing the e-brake, I would not recommed, what I would recommend is getting it fixed

wrightz28 · #18 03-29-2006, 09:40 AM

oh, in the lower gears, you say the tach is reading high rpms, does the motor sound wound up in conjunction with this? You know what i mean, after you get the hang of your shift points you shift by ear, does the engine sound right?

And no, the only you have to bleed the brakes is when you open one of the lines up.

Elizabeth Ann · #19 03-29-2006, 09:56 AM

Yes the motor is sounding wound up, then shift, winds again, shift, etc. what do you think it could be?

Besides the winding out with the tach, the motor sounds good, starts click ofthe key, etc.

wrightz28 · #20 03-29-2006, 10:01 AM

So you don't smell the brakes or cltuch burning?

Elizabeth Ann · #21 03-29-2006, 10:10 AM

Nope, and never did before he "fixed" the back brakes either,

wrightz28 · #22 03-29-2006, 10:53 AM

Hmm, curious. Well, all I can say at this point is to jack the back end up and try to to turn the wheels by hand. There should be a very slight drag only. Any thing else would indicate a problem there, but you should smell it or there should be an abundance of "brake dust" on the back of the drums. Don't over look the front end as well. Are the brakes overly responsive?

It's just a puzzler, no smell.

Elizabeth Ann · #23 03-30-2006, 02:53 PM

UPDATE!! Got the exhaust fixed yesterday and also a hole in the header, sounds better and will bark in 1st and 2nd gear but still no power, I want my baaaawaaaaaaa back damnit

, also found the emergency brake cable was stuck, the mechanic unstuck it but still the same problem, could my cam be worn out? It has no power, should be able to kick it and get the sound but doesn't happen, air induction is working though, there is power in shifting the gears although the tach still reads high, but no top end power....

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrightz28

So starting off the line power is normal?

Power remains constant through 1st, shift

constant through 2nd, shift

constant through 3rd, shift

into 4th starts dogging around, but will accleretae but very slowly and laboring the engine?

wrightz28 · #24 03-30-2006, 03:10 PM

Those were the last 2 things I was thinking, but really didn't want to randomly throw stuff out there, like restricted exhaust (clogged cat or muffler) or a worn cam

Elizabeth Ann · #25 03-30-2006, 05:12 PM

lmao, you're not throwing things out there, just trying to make sure that I'm not crazy yet, anyhow, had a new exhaust put on, from the headers back, but the same mechanic did that, so not sure, have had this car 10+ yrs so I know her well, my only car, so have to get it fixed. (Plus she is not for sale damnit!!) do a compression test to check the cam and etc? Need help here, please, and thanx, Elizabeth Ann ps. has never had the cat converter since I've had it.

wrightz28 · #26 04-03-2006, 10:04 AM

Well, if it has power in the lower gears getting going, i would be inclined to say it's not a cam issue.

How did the ignition timing check come out? Condition of spark? (color, blue is good orange is bad)

Genopsyde · #27 04-03-2006, 10:31 AM

Kinda just throwing this out there, I'm not even sure if an 80 even has this, but I saw that a new carb was put on and if this car is equipped with a TV cable and it wasn't adjusted with the new carb, could it be causing this problem?

wrightz28 · #28 04-03-2006, 02:08 PM

Geno, that would be a great idea, only one problem, this chick has a stick.

Please don't take offense in the use of the word 'chick' it just flowed.

Genopsyde · #29 04-03-2006, 02:41 PM

oh, sry, i didn't read anything about the trans being standard or auto.

Elizabeth Ann · #30 04-03-2006, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrightz28

Geno, that would be a great idea, only one problem, this chick has a stick.

Please don't take offense in the use of the word 'chick' it just flowed.

ROFLMLAO, NO OFFENSE TAKEN AND THANX, NEEDED THAT GIGGLE, CHECKED THE BACK DRUMS THEY WEREN'T TURNED LIKE THE MECHANIC SAID, REPLACED OLD DRUMS WITH NEW AND BACK BRAKES FEEL GOOD NOW, WEEEEEEE, she is going to a mechanic on Thursday damnit, grrrrrrrrrr, hope this guy can figure out what is wrong with my baby (how do you post pics of your cars on here?)

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