How much of the emissions crap can be removed and the engine still run??

 

None of it.

All of it.

It really depends on your capabilities as a mechanic - how much do you know what you're doing and how aware are you of what you're getting yourself into.

Entirely too many people show up here asking for help because some God-forsaken previous owner phuqued things up by "ripping out all the crap" or "cleaning up the engine bay" without knowing what they're doing with the result being a truck that has no power and that gets 5-8 MPG because it's stuck in limp-home mode (or whatever else wasn't done correctly).

 

Are you wanting to do this to correct what you posted previously about it surging? Removing it won't fix it. It's there for a reason. So my best advice would be to correctly fix it.

 

To the OP. You also posted that your truck just developed a surging issue. Removing the emissions system won't cure the problem. You have to systematically inspect and test all components of the fuel/ignition/wiring and yes the emissions system too in order to locate the problem.
It took me a week of testing, getting info on-line and EDUCATING MYSELF ( very important) before I finally located and fixed a similar problem with mine. Good luck.

 

So a fix was found, care to share what you found?

 

The carb and distributor are calibrated from the factory to work along side the emission components. If you remove the emissions then the distributor should be recurved and the carb will probably run lean at lower rpm's.

The only thing I can think of on a non-california 4bbl truck that could possibly affect the way the engine runs is the EGR valve. If it is malfunctioning.

Your problem is probably not emission related, a blown power valve could cause surging.

 

Thanks, will checkout both

 

Two things..........a loose ignition coil terminal (center one on distributor cap) and very corroded terminals on the socket connection from the distributor. My symptoms were cutting out and surging while accelerating, worse when outside temps were warm. But, there are MANY other things that could cause that.

 

thanks will check it out. Received other great tips as well