IP/Fuel/Power issue
I'm looking for opinions on what to do first. Local dealer installed a new IP on my 90 idi and ever since it's absolutely gutless. Can't get out of its' own way. Starts perfect, no black smoke.
So, should I:
A) Adjust throttle to open more
B) Turn up fuel
C) Advance IP timing
D) Go to Jamaica
Cheers from snowy/icy/rainy/-20c Nova Scotia
No surprise; your truck was built before most of the mechanics there knew which end of a wrench to use. Dealership service departments are "pediatricians", used to working on vehicles they sell (i.e. 0-6 years old, no more than 10). You need to find a place that specializes in old diesels. But since you already started the work with them, they need to finish it.
(Now that you mention it, Jamaica might not be a bad idea. Probably lots of old coots there who work on nothing less than 20 years old....)
The last job they did for me was rear shoes/cylinders/hardware on an E350 dually, and they put the shoes on the wrong sides, which left them nowhere to connect the adjusting cables, so they tied them up! A Ford dealership doing less than amateur work for $85.00 an hour...I do ALL my own now.
So, here I am, with a gutless idi. Any and all help/suggestions will be greatly appreciated

Is your pump "new" or rebuilt?? This forum knows of a few places that can rebuild a pump to factory or better quality. Unfortunately, there are many "rebuilders" who will reseal the pump, clean it up and paint it, and sell it as a rebuilt unit without actually replacing any wear parts.
Here are some quality rebuilders (do note that you pay for what you get):
R&D IDI Performance
fuel injection injection pump injection pump rebuilding injection pump repair, Conestoga Diesel Injection Fuel Injection and Turbocharger Rebuilding. The Moose Pump people! Willow Street, PA Home
Next is timing. I personally would suspect that first. Do a search here and you'll get more info than you know what to do with. I gotta go get to work
Good luck. Keep us posted.
It drives like there's a governor on it....or the throttle is only opening part way, which I'm certain it is.
I'm tempted to try turning the fuel up a flat or two first as it starts and runs fine, other than a complete lack of power. A total lack of black smoke makes me feel it might be fuel starved.
if you suspect the pedal in the cab isn't opening the injection pump lever the whole way,then your throttle cable might be stretched.
pop the hood,have an assistant press the accelerator to the floor,while you then inspect the lever on the ip to see if it's going wide open (you should do this when you buy the truck,and once per year after.) if not,then replace the cable.if so,then try turning the fuel up a flat.
when all said and done,go with D.!! go to Jamaica!
So, turned up the fuel a flat, adjusted throttle cable, and gave 1/2 of a Canadian dimes' worth of ip advance, and it's exactly the same. Tarpdiddle....
More ip advance?
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Still no great rattle out of it...test drives all still felt like it was on a limiter, with very little power getting me to that limiter.
I'm tempted to put even more advance in tomorrow after seeing if it rattles badly on cold startup or not. Otherwise, I'm stumped...
Suggestions?







