GMC Repair: restricted exhaust, flat roads, blue smoke

Question
I have a 87 Trans Am 5.0L 4bb carb. it has no power up hills or on flat roads. It takes 5 minutes to get it up to 30mph and the rpms don't reach more than 2000. It stalls when going up a hill and when you try to restart it starts then stalls right away. It only goes up to 2000 rpms and stays there while acclerating but when you put the pedal to the floor it stalls again and won't start for a while. It has a weird smell in the morning and while driving the smell comes through the vents into the. There is blue smoke with the smell. The PCV filter has alot of brown gunk on it and smoke comes up out of the engine next to the hose. There is some smoke from the tailpipes and some fluid. 2 local mechanics said its a restricted exhaust. The car was sitting for 2 years when I bought it until I put it on the road this summer. The shell came off the converter and when I removed I heard something rattling in the converter. It takes forever to start in the morning and there is a hissing sound underneath when driving and reving the engine. It sound like air coming out somewhere. The fuel filter is new along with the plugs and wires.
Is this a restricted exhaust or could it be something else?

Thanks,Tim Pionessa

Answer
It sure sounds like a restricted exhaust, Especially if you can bang on the catalytic converter and hear the insides rattle.

There IS a back pressure test that you can do to test for a restricted exhaust, But I think that this IS your problem.


autohelp