2.0L ('83-'88) ‘88 2.0 carbed truck

[Paul in OKC]

Greetings all. I have an ‘88 with the 2.0 5spd. Wife asked I not get a project, but…….
Drove it home somehow. Brakes were shot. Have since gone through the whole brake system with new stuff. Put a kit in the carb. Have gotten it to start fine, idle kicks down when bumping the pedal. It will run/idle fine for a while. Then it just stops. Won’t restart. Then after a bit it will. When driving it ran fine, then wanted to die when I pushed in the clutch coming to a stop. Wouldn’t restart with key, (new battery, cranks great) but would get going with a push and letting out the clutch. Then it would not come off a high idle. I’m sure the vacuum lines are not exactly ran correct, but…. Any thoughts appreciated. Thanks!

 

[franklin2]

When it won't restart, get out, take the aircleaner off, and look down the carb throat while you push the throttle wide open. You should see gas stream into the carb when the throttle is opened by hand. If you don't you have a fuel problem. If you see fuel, you should verify if you have spark.
Those are two major directions you could go, you need to know which direction to start in, fuel system or ignition system.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Thats strange it started with a pop start but not with the starter.

Wondering if its coincendence.

It reads like a bad coil.

But do what franklin said first

 

[Paul in OKC]

Been told coil by a couple others. Next chance I get to play with it that will go in the list to replace. Thanks.

 

[franklin2]

Been told coil by a couple others. Next chance I get to play with it that will go in the list to replace. Thanks.

No spark, coil could be it. No fuel, the coil would be way down on the list.

 

[Paul in OKC]

No spark, coil could be it. No fuel, the coil would be way down on the list.

True. The truck sat for many years. When I got it the owner had put a new fuel pump and plug wires. I still need to replace plugs, cap and rotor. The coil will be a minor expense at this point. Did clean the contacts in the cap and the rotor. Smoothed out the idle quite a bit.