I've had this truck for 7 years now and she's always run well enough. However, I am at the point where I stand up, admit that I have a problem, and ask respectfully for help.

I can and will attach relevant photos as I go.

She hasn't run well in a year now and I've tried to do the right things. I put new exhaust manifold gaskets on last summer to stop a leak, but when I did, the minutely larger width end to end caused the y pipe to not match up no matter how I tried. I don't think that's the problem but I know that a good diagnostician like to hear everything. So we still have a small leak or two where the bottom of the manifolds mate up with the ends of the y pipe.

Last fall she was having a weird problem where she'd run great until she got warmed up, then she'd lose power at anything higher than an idle. I didn't know much about chokes then and I'm still learning, but no matter whether the choke was open or shut shed still run ok at idle but sputter as I tried to rev her up.

Last month I rebuilt the 2150 and replaced the intake pan/gasket. I did my best to photo and sketch the vac lines and while I think I got most of them back the way they were, I'm not 100% sure about that. I also put on a new fuel pump and metal line from pump to carb.

Right now she won't start without starter fluid, even though I can see and hear lots of fuel coming out of the acc pump. Once I get her started she runs well enough, so I've eliminated distributor issues and basic carb issues.

I am missing the little timing tab that shows how to time it, so I hooked her up to a vac gauge and she's pulling 19 lbs very steady. I rotated the distributor a little to see what the max amount of vac I could get was, and it was right about where it had been.

More in the next post

 

When I say she's running rough, I mean mostly that she won't start without starter fluid and she stumbles to get up to full throttle. When at full throttle, she runs great as far as I can tell.

I haven't done a compression check yet, I plan to tomorrow. QUESTION: would a motor with a bad or blown head gasket have such a steady needle when hooked up to a vac gauge? I had a Falcon 200 with a blown head gasket last year, and that needle was jumping around all over the place.

I'm thinking possible head gasket due to the lack of power between idle and full, but like I said, she runs pretty well at full. And at idle.

 

Before you go off on something major like that, verify the basics... in this case, fuel pressure and flow rate at the carb.

Yes, I know you said you replaced the pump but that's not a guarantee the carburetor is getting what it needs.

Get yourself a fuel pressure / vacuum gauge; disconnect the fuel inlet at the carb and hook it to the gauge; use a remote starter switch to jump the solenoid, crank the engine a few times and see what the pressure reads; compare to specs.

Then, test the flow rate... you'll need to look up the specs but I think it's *something like* half a quart in 30 seconds... with the fuel line disconnected from the carburetor, direct the output into a can or jar or bucket and verify the volume it's putting out.

I would start there...

"My computer printer won't print!"
"Is it plugged in? Turned on? Is there paper in it?"

 

Will do, thanks