89 F150 6cy with 5spd stick.

It has a stuttering problem in 2nd and 3rd gear.
I've changed the plugs, wires, cap, rotor, fuel and air filters.
Checked and cleaned ground for the fuel pump.

Any ideals on what to check next?

Also, if you known any good insults I'd like to hear them too.

 

How many miles? Are you sure it's the motor and not the clutch? Does it do it when your changing gears ?

 

What you describe sounds like a lean stumble which can be confirmed by inspecting the color of the spark plugs, pale tan to white is lean. If that is the case there could be a number of things causing it but start with making sure there are no leaks in the exhaust system upstream of the O2 sensor and no air leaks in any of the smog or EGR parts, and pull the codes and check fuel pressure to get an idea if the EFI or fuel systems are causing it.

 

Not sure how many miles because odometer isn't working. Need to change the gears.
Slight miss when it idles.
I'll get those plugs pulled and take a peek

 

Sounds like the vacuum system. Pull the codes and see if there's its reading.

 

Okey dokey,
insulting insults - put downs and criticism

 

Didn't pull codes but found that one of the hoses for the air intake had come unseated. (found it by pulling on it) And that bypassed the air filter. Got it reseated and seems to run better. Still checking.

Is starter fluid a good way to check for vac leaks?

 

thats some good ones

 

Found a vac line going to a canister down under the battery that was pretty bad.
Replacing it seems to have fixed the problem

 

Glad to see it looks like you may have resolved the problem. This is a classic example of why the "spray method" to find vacuum leaks will fail. Spraying around the top of the engine with ether/carb. cleaner/etc. would not have revealed the leaking VRES you found.