so when I start it when it's cold it idles at 900-950rpm until I burp the throttle then it idles at 1150-1200rpm. after driving a bit it idles at 1450-1500rpm when I let off the gas(push in the clutch). when I hit the brakes it jumps back down to 1150rpm and it will stay there . then I'll take of again, push in the clutch(coming to a stop), back up to 1450-1500rpm. when I hit the brakes, back down to 1150rpm . It will idle at 1150rpm all day. the idle screw on the TB is all the way. I'm 90% sure it's vac. leak, but where?

another problem(maybe be related, but I don't think so) is I'm driving for like 5-10min and I notice that the temp gauge is almost in the red then like a min later the gauge reads normal or in the middle. so I have no clue other than I know somethings messed up in the cooling system
any help would be great

 

Your overheating may be a air bubble or air pocket in your cooling system. I had the same problem in my van Just take the radiator cap off and run the engine watch for large air bubbles. It may take 10-15 minutes to clear.

 

If you start the engine cold, and don't touch the throttle at all for 15 minutes what does it do?

what year is the 22re?

 

the truck is a '94 and the PO put a rebuilt engine in so the engine has a little less than 20k miles on it.
I started it and it idled at 900-950rpms and 15min later it was idling at 1100-1150rpm. after the 15min I tached it to about 3000rpms, when I let off the the gas it went down to 1450-1500rpm, when hit the brakes it jumped down to 1150rpms again

 

when you say it gets red during startup that sounds like the thermostat to me...