i need help diagnosing a problem..

[sbcCuttY]

well a while back i did an engine swap and a few problems came up..such as carb problems,backfiring...leaks and other stuff....but all that stuff is fixed..no more back fire..

but the engine or tranmission lack power upon acceleration..
i cant do brake stands...
.wen i did the swap the engine and trans. were deached...and i was wondering if any one here knows what are some problems that can come up when this i done..i mean detach trAns from engine..??
its a 1980 camaro 350 engine and trans..

 

[megaladon6]

what trans? what rear? does the engine rev up loaded and unloaded? when you do a brake stand, do you feel the power feel in but the car doesn't move fast or spin the tires when you release the brakes? or do you feel nothing?
when you drive, does the trans have all gears?

 

[sbcCuttY]

its a th350 ...3.73 monte rear...i floor the gas pedal and no acceleraton....takes a long *ss time just to get to 20mph.
it does have the proper fluid level..
when i try to do a brake stand...the car will sometimes just shut-off
..i rolled the diagnostic dice ...and they said that i had a vaccum leak...and that i need a new transmission.,.maybe true bu i doubt it...maybe the vac leak yeah...but i cant find one..

 

[megaladon6]

for a vac leak to make a difference at rpm's greater than 2k it would have to be huge! drive it and see if it shifts 1-2-3. does it rev up fine loaded/unloaded? can you feel the engine produce power when you try and do the brake stand? off hand i'm thinking low fuel pressure/volume or a bad trans.

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

I would also check to make sure the advance mechanism is not stuck. If it is ( or if you used a computer HEI without the computer), the acceleration will be lackluster at the very least. I don't remember off hand, but I do believe that the 1980 or 81 Camaro came with GM's 1st gen computer carb setup called the C4 system ( maybe because it really blew?). If you used the distributor and carb off that donor car without the ECU, it will not run properly. If the distributor does not have a vacuum advance canister on it, it is computer.

 

[sbcCuttY]

no computer....

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

Check the mechanical advance then.