will not start unless i hold the gas pedal all the way down

Sounds more like the engine is flooding with fuel rather your water idea.Is the engine have a carb or is it fuel injected?

Sorry this is my first time using this website this is more info for you.....and it has a carb.
I have a 1986 Monte Carlo. It will not start unless i hold the gas pedal all the way down. When it does start i have to continually hold the gas pedal down or it will die. Even when holding the gas all the way down the rpms will not go over 2000. After it does die white smoke shoots out of the carburetor and it back fires. I dont know why. Some information that may or may not help is that it is the 305 H.O L69 engine with a 4bbl carb.

So does it warm up and run good?

Nope it will not idle at all. As soon as I let off the gas it dies the backfires with white smoke shooting out of carb.

Try unbolting the cat and see if it runs any better?Also did this just start suddenly or did it slowly start getting worse?

a few days ago it died at a stop light and i fired it back up and it got me home. Woke up the next day and have been having these problems since. I have not driven it any where since it died at stop light.

It could have jumped cam timing also not going over 2,000 rpms something happened unbolt the cat and lets see how it runs.We have to start ruling things out.

and what is the cat? it it the catalytic converter?

just to add to saturn tech, i had many of these and re built many of these carbs for this exact issue. the plugs in the bottom of the carb center body leak and make it real hard to re start when hot.
you need an old timer in the business that can verify this and rebuild the carb for you.
the converter may be damaged from this and i would still pursue this as well.

Roy

would it be better if i just bought a new carburetor?

hard to find a Q jet today for under 1000. i rebuilt them for 400 with all the parts and labor.
it is up to you but I am from the old days and rebuilt them.

Roy

because of the leak is my engine probably flooded with fuel?

That car has a 4ME carb with computer controled metering rods real fun to rebuild.I have rebuilt the older ones but the ME carbs are more challenging.Before under taking the carb lets rule other things out.The cat is the catalitic convertor yes.

Ok what else do you think it could be?

i agree with saturn tech. rule out the other stuff.

Ropy

While you got it running when it wont run over 2,000 rpms holding the throttle wide open while its running carefully mist some carb spray over the carb opening.See if the engine picks up rpms from the carb spray.That will tell you if its starving for fuel.Before doing that make sure the choke isnt sticking?

Today after I sprayed some carb spray their was no change. Later on I tried starting it again and the carb caught fire but luckly immediatly died down........any ideas?