Problems starting

[z28 justin]

I'm sort of at a loss here. My 95 Z28 has always given me some trouble starting, sometimes gotta try twice, but now it's getting somewhat out of hand. The engine just cranks and cranks and cranks, but will not kick over. Once it does kick over it runs fine, but it just takes forever to get it. Sometimes it'll surge a little, sometimes it doesn't, sometimes it'll give me a little puff of blue smoke if I step on the throttle while trying to start it. I read somewhere that it could be bad injectors. Can the starter just be getting weaker? Engine has LT4 top end with an aftermarket cam, so is it just not spinning fast enough? Any thoughts would be helpful, thanks

[Godhatesimports]

I dont know that much, but it could be the starter maybe? Try replacing the spark plugs, coils,spark plug wires. I dont think the LT4 top and cam would have to do anything with it. How many miles are on it?

[ta12sec]

if its spinning over a decent rate its not the starter. Have you chnaged the fuel filter recently. if it runs ok once it starts id rule out injectors, how are the plugs and such what about the opti if its original that oculd bea problem

[WishIHadACamaro]

^ agreed with brad.

As long as the starter is spinning pretty good. Not a slow chug-chug-chug or a click-click-chug sound then its definitely not the starter.

Than you have to diagnose what makes your car run and why it might not be working.

-Ignition System, which includes, coilpacks (unfamiliar with your year does it have coilpacks?) Plugs, Wires may be messed up...etc, etc.

-Fuel Delivery, well everything from here on out.

[ta12sec]

HAS AN OPTISPARK
OPTISPARK = POORLY DESIGEND DISTRUBUTOR

[z28 justin]

i'll pull a couple of the plugs this weekend and see how they look. The car only has 64K miles, I think the plugs were changed with the heads so they maybe have 30K miles on them. I'll check the fuel filter this weekend too. I'm guessing the opti is original

[WishIHadACamaro]

ugh optispark, i remember now...

fuck it, go out and buy an MSD distributor for $150 (prbly get one cheaper on ebay)

But yeah, it probably wont hurt to due a tune up on your car anywasy you know?

[Black93Z]

uhhh.... the $150 MSD is just the rebuild kit. if you get the whole opti then its $500 and yes MSD does have their opti out now. and if your replacing the opti or rebuilding it you might as well replace the coil with the MSD unit also to make sure. if the plugs look bad be sure to change those. how old are the wires? if theyre very old you might thnk about changing those too.

[WishIHadACamaro]

Originally Posted by Black93Z

uhhh.... the $150 MSD is just the rebuild kit. if you get the whole opti then its $500 and yes MSD does have their opti out now. and if your replacing the opti or rebuilding it you might as well replace the coil with the MSD unit also to make sure. if the plugs look bad be sure to change those. how old are the wires? if theyre very old you might thnk about changing those too.

oops sorry, silly me stuck on GEN1 block parts.

[z28 justin]

Thanks guys, I pulled the whole 1 plug I could get to somewhat easily (damn edelbrock headers) and it looked fine. Last night when I tried it, it definately smelled gassy after a couple tries, but I got it on my 4th. I had my dad try to start it and I looked and listened and a puff of smoke came out of the throttle body. My dad said it seemed like it was somewhat flooded. After about 4 attempts it started and ran fine. Then I turned it off and tried again 2 more times and both times it started right up. It also seems to detonate when I stop spinning the starter if I don't turn the ignition all the way back. If you guys still think it's the Opti, I'll look into it more, but I can't get over that it seems somewhat flooded immediately on startup which would maybe mean bad injectors.