Interesting drive issues

Well, my company van is no more. I'm forced to use my BII as not only a mild daily driver, but a worker transport as well. (company pays decent for mileage)

A few things that are annoying the heck out of me. And I'm considering dropping the tank, cleaning the insides, replacement of the fuel filter and pickup sock...and dropping in a new set of injectors.

Basically the ol' girl starts on the 2nd try normally. It's been in single digits so super cold starts I expect would be harder. And I changed out the oil to 5w40 full syn. due to the extreme cold snap.

Nutshell. Starts and runs fair....Getting an interesting 'bucking' when trying to go forward. (chugging more an apt description?) Seems to be fair enough when going 65, steady speed and all that...bogs down on hills and inclines a bit more then I'd like.

Now at the same time, at 'off' idle and starting to go forward at mild accel-- It starts to 'buck' a bit. And I'm getting what sounds like a metal crunching type (or binding type) sound. Keep in mind it's not 100% constant "metal sound with bucking at all times" Sometimes it's metal sound and takes off normally.. To that end last Sunday I put the rear end up on stands, started the ol' girl up, and had the wife put 'er into drive and slowly accel and brake. One brake seems to have a slight 'drag'. (checked, seems normal? New wheel cylinders, shoes, and hardware kits) So I'm not 100% sure it might not be dragging while coming off a dead stop, thus causing binding type noises...etc...

Thinking possible....driveshaft binding? (again..not sure? It's got that GKN type drive shaft) Perhaps the torque converter crunching? It's darn near impossible to pinpoint the noise, as it was dead silent while on the stands. (basically no load on anything...)

Just looking for ideas. I'm at the point of having the local ford shop (I know the service manager) for a basic check to get a 2nd opinion.

At this point the bucking I feel might be just another fuel problem, as the amount of crap I cleaned out of the fuel rail was extreme..and it might have clogged the filters again.

S-

that is the same thing my truck does.

yeah mine too, it bucks ALOT. im curious as to what it is aswell

i have tryed several new parts(tps, mapp, sensor on the distributor...) changein the fuel filter made it run good for about a week, then it went right back to how it was. started to run mid grade gas and it has significantly reduced the "bucking" but it is still there.
i would really like to find out whats causein this. instead of just playin the sensor game.

i got the same problem as you guys. i dont have the metal sounds but its bucking and bogging down alot. ive replaced fpr, checked all vaccum leaks, fuel filter. pumps are good. good pressure on fuel rail. i havent checked the injectors yet. seems fuel related but maybe like what teddybear said it could be driveline related. someone told me u joints before but its bogging too much for it to be just ujoints

hummm...This might, or might not help yours.

But this is how I figured out the injectors where roached in ours.

I removed the upper intake, and injector rail. Left the injectors intact on the rail, and the hoses still connected to the fuel rail. Now here's the tricky and possible DANGEROUS part!!!!! I pointed each injector into a thick load of papertowels. Then I had the wife cycle the key 'on' and 'off' to prime the fuel lines. (did I mention this is DANGEROUS?!!? As in...make sure the engine is STONE COLD!) With each injector pointing into the towels, I used a very small mini-punch. Carefully depressed each 'needle valve' inward slightly-- (you'll have to prime the fuel lines after each test) Now if the injector(s) are good? You should get a fine myst spray. It doesn't take much to depress the valve to check. If you get no fuel out of the injector at all? I'd wager the fuel sock in the feed end of the injector is plugged solid with crud. If you get kinda a blahh stream from the injector? The end of the valve is bunged up with a varnish like build up. As the final test? Prime the system and let it sit for a few moments. Check each valve for leaks. Leaks=slow drips and excessive fuel being dispensed. (you'll actually see 'em bubble/drip/oozeeeeee)

As I stated...this is a dangerous test to preform, so use some smarts and have a CO2 extinguisher handy--just in case...do it in a very well vented area (gas fumes are nasty) and make sure the engine is stone cold.

I'm gonna probably have to repeat this test again if my problems get worse.

I've got the feeling the tank is loaded with garbage that bungs up the filter, and no matter how good the filter? Most garbage makes it into the fuel rail over time.

S-

awesome! thanks for the help. ill check that out once we get out of the deep freeze