Running GREMLINS
#1
Running GREMLINS
Alright boys and girls, here's my story. I'll try to keep it short as possible. I traded my 99 s10 DD for an 82 Toyota Trailblazer. Truck is a boss!! I was told it probably needed a carb but had a new engine.
Did a little research and she had a new engine alright, the truck actually belonged to another yotatech member Hurley who did an awesome build thread on here. So I was sold and took her home.
Carb adjustments were was outta whack. It was idled up to about 2k rpms to keep it from dying and when you came to a stop you had to rap the throttle to keep it alive. Tried to rebuild the Asian carb with no luck. Now I have a DD I can't drive. I ordered a re-man unit from National Carburetor and 2 1/2 freakin weeks later I got it. Slapped it on and a few adjustments and she's runnin again.
HOWEVER, nothing is consistent with it. One day it will fire up and run fine cold or hot, next time I fire it up a few hours later when I have to go to work I get rough idle, spits and sputters, and dies coming to a stop!! And it uses a ridiculous amount of fuel(9 mpgs!!!) Then, 9hrs later, cranks fine, never sputters, doesn't die, holds idle, and the gas needle doesn't move!!! I suspect vacuum is an issue, but I can't find a big enough diag to see. I want to do the de-smog, but after droppin 260 on the carb, 2 rebuild kits(don't drop the power valve spring!!!) and a bunch of other little things(dude had RTV for a thermostat housing gasket) I'm runnin dry. Oh yeah, the wife is... PISSED!!! I need to put the vacuum back to stock before I can tell anything accurate about timing or carb adjustments.
I'm at a loss here boys, and I'm in big trouble. The only other thing I know to do is cut my losses and sell it or trade it off again. I'd love to swap keys with one of you guys!! This thing would be awesome with a little time and money but I'm short on both, and its not looking good. This site has a wealth of knowledge and I know one of ya'll will know what to do. Any help would be appreciated or pm me if you want the truck, I don't want to lose her, but its a lil more of a project than I have time for.
PS, her name is Christine, but I don't think she likes it!!!
Did a little research and she had a new engine alright, the truck actually belonged to another yotatech member Hurley who did an awesome build thread on here. So I was sold and took her home.
Carb adjustments were was outta whack. It was idled up to about 2k rpms to keep it from dying and when you came to a stop you had to rap the throttle to keep it alive. Tried to rebuild the Asian carb with no luck. Now I have a DD I can't drive. I ordered a re-man unit from National Carburetor and 2 1/2 freakin weeks later I got it. Slapped it on and a few adjustments and she's runnin again.
HOWEVER, nothing is consistent with it. One day it will fire up and run fine cold or hot, next time I fire it up a few hours later when I have to go to work I get rough idle, spits and sputters, and dies coming to a stop!! And it uses a ridiculous amount of fuel(9 mpgs!!!) Then, 9hrs later, cranks fine, never sputters, doesn't die, holds idle, and the gas needle doesn't move!!! I suspect vacuum is an issue, but I can't find a big enough diag to see. I want to do the de-smog, but after droppin 260 on the carb, 2 rebuild kits(don't drop the power valve spring!!!) and a bunch of other little things(dude had RTV for a thermostat housing gasket) I'm runnin dry. Oh yeah, the wife is... PISSED!!! I need to put the vacuum back to stock before I can tell anything accurate about timing or carb adjustments.
I'm at a loss here boys, and I'm in big trouble. The only other thing I know to do is cut my losses and sell it or trade it off again. I'd love to swap keys with one of you guys!! This thing would be awesome with a little time and money but I'm short on both, and its not looking good. This site has a wealth of knowledge and I know one of ya'll will know what to do. Any help would be appreciated or pm me if you want the truck, I don't want to lose her, but its a lil more of a project than I have time for.
PS, her name is Christine, but I don't think she likes it!!!
Last edited by jyou9; May 21, 2013 at 09:57 AM. Reason: hit return
#3
Not sure if this will help or not but I have a thread to download a Factory Service Manual for a 1983 Pickup. I would say a lot of it would applicable to your truck.
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f114...wnload-261385/
Dropzone was right, Use the Return key and make multiple paragraphs or something to make it easier on us to read. No hating on you, just saying.
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f114...wnload-261385/
Dropzone was right, Use the Return key and make multiple paragraphs or something to make it easier on us to read. No hating on you, just saying.
#4
I downloaded that '83 factory manual and appreciate it. It should be even more accurate for OP's ''82, since he still has an original type carb.
The symptoms sure sound like some intermittent air leak into the intake after the carburator. OK, I guess I could have said vacuum leak. Did you try spraying different areas with carb cleaner, while it's running rough, to see if it makes a difference?
I finally tracked a similar frustrating problem to a cracked brake vacuum booster line. It was cracked (on the bottom where I couldn't see it!) right where it attaches to the exhaust manifold. I just cut about a half inch off it and put it back on and my truck runs fine again. I spent a long time messing with that.
The symptoms sure sound like some intermittent air leak into the intake after the carburator. OK, I guess I could have said vacuum leak. Did you try spraying different areas with carb cleaner, while it's running rough, to see if it makes a difference?
I finally tracked a similar frustrating problem to a cracked brake vacuum booster line. It was cracked (on the bottom where I couldn't see it!) right where it attaches to the exhaust manifold. I just cut about a half inch off it and put it back on and my truck runs fine again. I spent a long time messing with that.
#7
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#8
Alright, update time. Got it runnin good now!!! Vac advance wasn't pulling from manifold pressure. That explains a lot!! FSM download was awesome download too, thanks for that.
Driving it around is fun, gets tons of looks all of town. BUT, its still pullin bad mpgs. My estimate is maybe 12-13? Worse than I thought it would be. Maybe gears? What did they run in '82? Anyway, thought I might sell..... I'm in GA. Maybe a trade would be considered? Something daily drivable, TRUCK, 5 speed.
Driving it around is fun, gets tons of looks all of town. BUT, its still pullin bad mpgs. My estimate is maybe 12-13? Worse than I thought it would be. Maybe gears? What did they run in '82? Anyway, thought I might sell..... I'm in GA. Maybe a trade would be considered? Something daily drivable, TRUCK, 5 speed.
Last edited by jyou9; May 26, 2013 at 03:20 PM.
#9
what size tire you running? That could be a lead on your MPG. When I ran 31's on my 86 Truck with 22re(over 210,xxx) I was getting 18 occasionally 20-21. Even with 35's I had for a while and it got about 15. Grant it mine was EFI. Maybe try going down a size or 2 in tire and add better plugs and wires. I have accell 7mm and noticed after I first installed them I got better mpg and my truck ran alot better and that was 8 years ago and still got same plugs and they are going strong.
#11
what size tire you running? That could be a lead on your MPG. When I ran 31's on my 86 Truck with 22re(over 210,xxx) I was getting 18 occasionally 20-21. Even with 35's I had for a while and it got about 15. Grant it mine was EFI. Maybe try going down a size or 2 in tire and add better plugs and wires. I have accell 7mm and noticed after I first installed them I got better mpg and my truck ran alot better and that was 8 years ago and still got same plugs and they are going strong.
I am runnin bald-ish 33 12.50's. Not a real aggressive tread pattern. I figured that would have something to do with it, but not that much. Plugs, wires, dist cap and rotor button are new. Does anybody make a 31 12.50 tire???
Last edited by jyou9; May 28, 2013 at 05:56 AM.
#14
Don't sell it man you'll never find another trailblazer. check anything made of rubber for holes or squishy glueyness, check your fuel pump/accelerator pump for leaks my 84 was and is doing the samething
Last edited by Stetson_md; May 28, 2013 at 01:06 PM.
#15
Yeah, I agree Stetson, I've never seen one before and will probably never see one again. Hell, if you yahoo image search Toyota Trailblazer, this one comes up!! Unfortunately, not a good time in my life to have it. I've talked with multiple people, the gas mileage I'm getting on the set-up I'm runnin is normal, that's the biggest problem! 50 miles a day, 6 days a week, 11-12 mpgs, not a good combo!
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