dump a full tank of 92 octane in the tank.. with about 5 bottles of 104 octane booster

 

Gnarly4x: haven't checked tps settings. Haven't messed with them at all. Can it get out of whack on its own?

To describe power loss better:

Right after rebuild I could maintain 75mph and still have 1/2 pedal left. Since problem began, I'm flooring to maintain 70. 4th gear doesn't have the power it had either. Takes a full second or two longer than it did to get to where I shift to 5th. Gears 1-3 seem about the same as they were.

It doesn't miss at all. It starts right up without any problems. It just feels like I have a 40 mph headwind and am loaded down with my 4 fattest friends in the cab.

 

are u getting a good fuel?

 

pull the plugs and see if they are wet. i know thats a scary idea after all that work, but... did you change the cap and rotor? ... check this out, i just remembered that my EGR was giving me some issues very similar to your symptoms. check to see that it is not stuck open. that would give you a major vac leak. i tore the head off mu brother-in-laws truck last weekend, #1 sucking h2o. i told him that he could put it back together and he almost punched me in the mouth. not to worry, just supply the beer i told him. anyway, with the engine running pull the vac line for the egr off the vac rail, the one that fits to the top of the egr, and give it some sucking pressure. if the engine stumbles its probably ok. check the connections on the pipe that runs from the exhaust to the bottom of the intake. just thinking out loud. good luck.

 

i had a clogged cat in my old camaro back and the day... the performance just kept on gong down and down... until it would barley run....

 

Good ideas here. I'll get back with details.

 

Just to recap:

Plugs, wires, cap, rotor are all new.

Cat and muffler: new (Since cat was rattly this is the first thing I replaced)

 

Also, just to be clear on the timing:

Jump the t and e to cancel the advance
Set timing to 5 BTDC

Does this mean line up the timing mark with the 5, with the advance thing jumped

OR

Does this mean with the 5 degree advance thing jumped align the timing mark with 0, which after you pull the jumper WILL BE 5 BTDC?

 

Jump it and then set to 5.

 

thanks lumpy. That's where it is. I've started second guessing myself now.

 

I was reading through another thread...have you checked the knock sensor? Can find them on ebay for cheap. If the knock sensor goes it is gutless.

 

Thanks. Is there a way to test it, or is it one of those "just replace it" parts?

 

If there is a way to test it I'm not sure. New ones if I recall are about 150, I got mine on ebay for 10-20 something like that. My issues ended up being the wiring going to the knock sensor but it will cause the same issues. Just gutless, it retards the timing and runs like you have a hanging brake.

 

ya, them dam knock sensor are expensive.. the local part stores are going to charge you arm and leg.

 

I don't know what the problem is/was. I've made all the repairs/adjustments listed above and now finished another tank of gas.

Good news is it seems to be running fine again. I'm starting to lean towards bad gas. It's slowly been getting better. Each of the repairs/adjustments seemed to help a little too, but since it's just slowly gotten better (almost on it's own) I think I had some crappy fuel.

Thanks for all the help and suggestions. Now I have lots of new parts!

Stay tuned. I'm about to dive into something else. The rear output seal on the transfer case is out. Throwing oil everywhere.

It's going to be a nasty one. I've pulled the driveshaft and checked out that 30 mm nut. Someone has gotten to it before me, because that thing is beat to hell. I now there is supposed to be a bent notch to keep it from backing off, but this is way overboard. It looks like it has just been pounded on.

Here goes.

 

probably the guy in Laytonvile, CA who put in the Marlin transmission for me. I'm pretty sure the truck was all original and untouched before I got it.

 

Got that seal replaced with no problems. Leak is gone. Took about 45 min. Pretty easy fix.

 

nice!

 

TX - great thread. You've got me thinking about doing this to my truck over the summer. My biggest worry is making sure I had all the parts ready to go because I'd only have 15 or so days to get it done. Add to that my mechanic skills are severely lacking. The biggest project I have done was ripping open my 3rd member to install a locker.

Also I noticed you saved around $2k doing it yourself. How much did it cost you for all the parts and that good stuff?

Thanks

 

He hasn't posted on here since he made this thread, so he might not answer. If you shoot him a PM you might have a better chance at getting ahold of him. I haven't seen him on here in a while though.

I can attest to the fact that he used an engnbldr performance head and cam and engnbldr timing components and head bolts. I believe he bought a water pump locally along with some other odds and ends. I think he told me he had a budget of $1000.

I know all this cuz I sold him the beast about 5 years ago.