Well today after cleaning up and prepping some brake components for paint like the backing plate and e cable bracket I decided to get a better look at the prior owners spark plug wire job. They were obviously way to long and upon closer inspection were a mess.
4 out of 8 wires were completely dead as in my digital meter wouldn't show any reasonable resistance instead they were open. Two of the four remaining wires had bad insulation breaks and one of the wire ends was just laying in the distributor cap hole with no boot or anything to hold it in place. I had some used wires that came off my truck not sure if they are compatible but my word they have to be better then what was on there.
How in the world did this motor run? Are Pontiac's that magical they will still run with only half their plug wires conducting? I also found the pcv valve had no vacuum hose attached. Further inspection showed the rubber fuel line was kinked in half right next to the fuel pump. But I promise you this did run and was kind of snappy with the throttle blips. Maybe all the smoke was partly caused by non firing cylinders? Also found no connection to the temp sensor and a oil pressure line that goes no where and about a half dozen other small gauge wires that go no where.
Thank God I don't need this car as dependable transportation. I guess this car makes good covid stay at home time entertainment.
