Hello all, I finally got my first f-body, a '95 formula 'vert. I've changed the s-belt, oil, and air filter, and plan to change at least the fuel pump this weekend.

Yesterday at WOT in first gear the car backfired/stumbled a few times and then went on to pull hard as usual. That was probably from 3500-4500rpm. I figured I'd just loaded up the exhaust w/fuel since it'd been idling a bit and wasn't quite to the 160 mark temp wise.

Well, on the way home from work tonight it would get all the way to the end of first and wot, and then miss/possibly a quiet backfire right b4 shifting into second. This happened several times, and I got it to backfire out the exhaust once just from a quick rev in neutral.

The car has 73k miles on the original opti, may be the original plugs/wires. The air filter was bad dirty when I changed it and I suspect the fuel filter may be bad also. I did run a little low on gas a while back, maybe some gunk clogged the filter, but I wasn't much below the 1/4 mark.

Any suggestions or am I on the right track?

Thanks to all in advance

 

Update!!! Just took the car out for a drive and it mysteriously quit. Maybe what I was feeling b4 was hard shifts. On the last straight stretch toward home though, I went wot in 1st one last time and I heard a huge bang under the car. At first I thought I'd busted a u-joint and lost the driveshaft. Console moved too. Possible busted tranny mount???? Pls. Help>

 

that old wives tale about running low on gas plugging the filter is pure BS. What plugs the filter is crap in the tank no matter how much gas you got in your tamk. We coast into a gas station on fumes at least 1 a month. Never burnt a pump or plugged a filter in over 200K miles on the shop truck.

I would personally start with a good tune up before you start replacing things. I would definately change the fuel filter and maybe think about plugs. Sounds like you are running out of gas so i am inclined to say filter.

 

Well I crawled up under the beast and the tranny mount definitely looks busted. I'll check it for sure in the morning. Maybe that would explain part of my 80+ mph vibration. Thanks for the help, I'm working on a complete tune up a part or two at a time, money's kinda tight right now, but I'll get it all done in time.

Thanks again. I'm hoping I just busted my tranny mount, it sure scared the bejeezus out of me. Sounded like someone hit the floorpan with a big sledge. Oh well, I'll check back prob. tomorrow night w/an answer on the tranny mount.

 

Yep, tranny mount was definitely ripped apart. Replaced this morning w/energy suspension mount. Vibration through the console is noticable, but I've heard that the poly mounts need to break in for 500 miles or so.

The car feels slower than it did a week or so ago, but I may just be getting used to it. I suppose I'll try to change the fuel filter anyway tomorrow night. Thanks all for your help.