Fuel pressure checks out, new plugs, new wires, new fuel pump, new fuel filter, and some other things. It’s still breaks up under power or when you just rev it high with no load.
I tackled it again today. Or should I say vice versa…
I took off the throttle position sensor, and it looks perfect. A drop of 3in1 oil where it pivots on the inside. Put it back, no difference.
What’s the silver cylinder thing just behind that on top of the engine intake? I took it off and cleaned it, a drop of 3in1, it has two openings on the mounting surface, and a plunger that slides back-and-forth perpendicular to those holes. In any case, it looked perfect. No difference.
I changed the coil pack/spark block. Old one was dirty, but I couldn’t see any thing wrong. It made no difference in the performance. I assume the little black one – wire cube (1/2 inch?) under one of the mounting screws is simply a resistor to keep static out of the radio. Yes/no?
When I got out from under the hood to walk around to the door to start it and see if it made any difference, I tripped on one of my Aluminum channels, and I fell backwards into one of my bushes. Lincoln came over and licked my face while I was laughing. I stood up again. It was the most productive thing I did.
I changed the pressure regulator on the fuel rail. It didn’t make any difference.
I took the throttle body off to check it. Sometime in history, a previous owner had put an aftermarket cruise control unit on the truck. I disconnected that cable and did not connect it back. The regular throttle cable was bone dry at the ball and socket. 3in1 oil on that. When I had the throttle body off, it was pretty carboned up and dirty on the backside.
I cut the bristles off a three-quarter inch paintbrush so it was like a shorty scrub brush, and I cleaned it out as best I could with carb cleaner. I used the carb cleaner to clean the pivots and clean off the springs, and then I put 3in1 dabs on that as well. Made no difference.
Cycling the throttle seems much smoother now, but it still runs like crap when you read it. With all of that, it runs a hair better, but not enough to drive it. When I first started it up after, the idle was very low, didn’t install, but very low. I turned up the idle a little bit, a tiny bit, and since then it’s been idling too high, even though I turned it back down and then some. What’s that about? I sprayed starting fluid around everything I had taken it loose, and I didn’t have any surge, so I think there aren’t any vacuum leaks.
I gave up and cleaned the workbench and I ordered a cam synchronizer. Locally they were from $90 (rebuilt) to $160 and more (plus $44 core charge.). I ordered a rebuilt Cardone on eBay, $29 delivered, no core charge.
It will be here later this week or first of next week. To stay in shape for the job I’m going to take a 3 pound dead blow hammer and smack myself in the head while I’m sitting in the recliner, or bang my head directly on the driveway next to the truck.
I do appreciate all the help.
