Howdy!

This forum is a wealth of information for Z28 owners, so I have one for the geniuses on board...

'95 Z28 convertible, 144K miles, 6-speed manual.

Started stuttering on moderate throttle last week. In sync with the stuttering, the gear shift shakes. It seems to happen when I am at less than 1200 rpm or so. It feels like lugging, but I am not driving any differently than I have over the last two years. It also happens on the the highway when I try to accelerate in any gear.

Since I read a thread about the transmission mount, and had the shaking gear shift symptom, I put in a new mount last weekend. The old mount was quite compressed and torn, so changing it was reasonable. I picked up an Anchor mount and installed it, but the issue persists.

What should I check and address next to correct this problem?

 

Check the optispark distributor. They have a tendency to act up like this when they are worn out or bad.

 

Darn. Not what I wanted to hear. Thanks!

 

Your engine is misfiring.

When is the last time you changed plugs and wires?
Is CEL lit or flashing?
When was the fuel filter changed last?

You could go ahead and throw parts at the car, and possibly waste a lot of money and time, or get a good diagnosis and just fix what is broken.

 

Plugs and filter changed within the last six months. No CEL light, but the ABS INOP light has been coming on intermittently.

I have not changed the wires, but this should be a lot easier than the Opti...

So for a good diagnosis, should I visit Chevy (OBD1.5)?

 

you can use a obd1 scanner. http://shbox.com/1/xraycable.jpg
check fuel pressure and fuel filter. plug wires are not much easier than changing opti. acctually easier to do wires when changing opti. allot of the stuff is outa the way.

 

actually harder than the opti, lol, ive done both and plug wires took more time than the opti, change the water pump while your at it, mine was bad at 107k bearings were missing on the pump shaft

 

Will a failing Opti cause an ABS INOP light?

 

no it will not. have you checked the wiring harnesses at the front wheel hub? common failure point.

 

I have this same problem, but sometimes I can shut off the car and restart it, and the problem goes away. But lately that hasn't been working.

Then today, when i got home, the engine temp was around 190-210, so i opened the hood and saw some smoke coming from the middle of the engine.

Ideas?

i drive a 1995 Camaro convertible 3.4L V6, 112xxx miles 5spd manual