I keep getting told that I can run my truck without the ECM. Yes its carbureted but it's an electric choke. Furthermore what I was reading on the internet and as well as watching a painstakingly long explanation as this guy went through an entire wiring diagram of a starting circuit for a couple of different vehicles I don't understand how it is that people are telling me I can run it without the ECM especially because I'm in California, this place sucks. But I've heard things like the fact that the ECM controls the ignition timing, reads the signal generator. However multiple people have put it to me saying that it literally just records data is this correct? I mean hell I've had an AutoZone guy in California say the same thing and he's the Toyota guy. Was the ECM back then just for reporting to smog stations or whatever and does it still apply with the electric choke? Bear in mind I don't have any AC or compressor. I do have this lil doohickey.


Would someone tell me what the hickey doo please?

 

That 'dohickey' used to be the heater blower motor resistor.

The blower speed switch selectively shunts through one or more of the resistance coils in this to give several alternate blower speeds.

The one you picture is junk.

 

As far as I know, the choke on the older, carbed, engines is entirely mechanical. In other words, not controlled by an ECM. Same with the starting circuit. Tap the gas pedal 3 times, sets the choke and dumps some fuel down the carb throat. Hit the key to START, with the clutch pedal pressed to the floor, and VROOM! As long as the clutch pedal is down to the floor, it SHOULD crank right up. Pretty simple circuit, really.
Mine does, anywho. 1987, 2 WD, 5spd MT, with a mere 372,000 miles on the dial. It was my DD in Yuma. I took off a lot of the anti-smog trash not long after I bought it in 1988. I would think that if it had an ECM at all, it would have started throwing codes as soon as I started taking "stuff" off the engine. Never thrown a single code since *I* have owned. That's a LONG time. Never seen a single CE light, not when there were troubles, not during start up, never.
I never LOOKED for an ECM. I don't think, which is a very accurate statement, that my 87 pickup even has one.

Have fun!
Pat☺

 

Is there a vacuum pod(s) on the distributor and does it have centrifugal weights for mechanical advance?

 

Yes. That's the setup in my truck. Works great, even after 30+ years. I keep the weights lubed with a drop of oil every year, when I change the distributor cap and rotor. The little vacuum pod just keeps on working.

My middle daughter, who learned to drive a stick in it, as well as how to work on autos, wants to buy it now, to teach her 3 sons to drive a stick in it

Have fun!
Pat☺