TPI engine code, electronic spark timing problem

[V]

OK, well this has to do with the Monte SS. I'll do a quick run down of the car, 350tpi, rebuilt about 4k miles ago, T5 trans, 90-92 Camaro SD TPI stand alone setup. VATS and A.I.R. removed... now for the problem,

Last night it started running strange and the tach was gettign somewhat jumpy. It didnt throw any codes though so then today my GF tried driving it and it was really rough idling and stalling, and finally threw a code. Tonight i got it home and checked it out, I pulled 2 codes, 14, and 42, 14 is for the coolant temp sensor, 42 is for "electronic spark timing". I decided just to replace the coolant sensor and the Ignition module(said to be a possible cause of code 42) well, autozone didnt have the coolant sensor so i just got the module. I then went home cleared the codes, put in the new ignition module and checked all the connections, i used the grease too. So i started it up, still ran like crap and threw a code right away, checked it and just code 42 this time again, I then swapped the whole dizzy w/module from a spare 350 tpi motor i have. It ran better at first but still threw the code right away, but it'd idle. Now after the car cooled and my GF started it to leave, it didnt want to idle, took a few starting attempts and holding the throttle a little, but finnaly it held. and the check engine light is still there.

What else should i look into changing or replacing? the wiring was a stand alone harness that was made maybe 2 years ago, so brittle wiries i dotn think would be an issue, I checked the connectors at the module, coil, and est connector, and all seemed fine, The manual also said a defective ECM could be a cause as well, should i consider getting a spare ecm and trying it or what, I need to fix this car ASAP and right now i'm stumped, some help would be appreciated.

[JSPERFORMANCE]

The esc is different than the module... The esc unit is usually on the firewall with all the relays on a f body.. It has a flat, 5 pin harness going to it i believe..

[V]

thats esc code 43, im talking about EST code 42

and btw, im running speed density as stated before, and with the SD "730" ecms the esc is built into the ecm, so it is not on the firewall anyway.

[JSPERFORMANCE]

Your right... Probably needs a computer then..

[maroman88]

paul, unrelated, but ive been trying to contact u by PM

[BonzoHansen]

In older setups, I ran into that with bad distributors (the pickup coil, really) and bad ecms. But check all wires & grounds. You have to unplug a wire to set the timing? If so, make sure that connection is good and that wire isn't shorting somewhere. Damn, been a long time since I thought about this stuff.

Do you have a manual showing the troubleshooting tree/chart?

[V]

mike, yeah i got the PM now, i should have a jack and tire, if you want you can stop by tomorrow and ill dig one up.

bronzo, it turned out to be a burnt/grounded EST wire. Its basically all good now. I used a flow chart for troubleshooting codes and i traced it down and then checked most of the wire, and finally found it. I had a metal strap holding some wires, but it must have wore through the wire a lil, then brooke loose and it would contact the rear pass. corner of the valve cover, and therefore grounding it out. And yes i know the connector has to be unplugged when the timing is set.

[BonzoHansen]

Who knew my memory was useful afterall.