So just the other day here, I was saying something about the reliability of the yellow truck, how I trusted it to go just about anywhere at any time...

Well, Sunday morning, I had to move the yellow truck for a household project. I jumped in, fired it up, and moved it off the driveway. I didn't wait for it to warm up-I just fired it up and moved it. Well, she must be a lady, because ladies don't like quickies-especially when you skip the foreplay (unless it's their idea)

So Monday, I jumped in the truck to go to work. It fired right up, although the fast idle was lower than normal. Then the idle speed dropped and dropped until it was barely running-something like 450 rpm

Since I had to get to work, I drove the copper truck instead. When I got home tonight, I had another look at the yellow truck. She fired right up, fast idle was again low, and the idle speed dropped down to about 450. I raised the idle speed to where it was close, but the truck was loping and surging at idle. I took it for a little drive, and it was ok at highway speed, but still lopey and surge-y at idle

I pulled it into the driveway, and threw a timing light on it. It was way off, so I adjusted the distributor a bit. Even when the timing was set correctly, it still barely ran. I started thinking "vacuum leak" so I broke out the carb cleaner and checked the base gasket and hoses. Couldn't find anything, so I pulled the carb off to check it "clean"

I blocked-off all the vacuum ports on the tree and the carb. Put the carb back on, checked the fuel line, and fired it up. Ran great. Timing was dead-on and idle was smooth. Restored the vacuum lines one by one, looking for a problem by process of elimination. Never did find a leak and the truck again runs great.

Took it for another drive-idle speed is a tad high, but it runs nice and smooth-no more lopes nor surges. It was a new carb base gasket, so maybe it needed to be re-torqued. I didn't find anything definitely bad, but it's all in good shape now

 

guess you won't be bragging about dependability any time soon lol sometimes they just need a little attention

 

Maybe she just needed some "one on one time" alone with you


I had the same symptoms a few weeks back,
turned out one of my plugs on the vacuum tree had somehow went A.W.O.L
Ain't had any problems since replacing the missing one...

 

I think you nailed it there with both things...

All my attention had been directed to the copper truck recently, with its bearing job. And before that, the bearings in the brown truck. So I've been relying on the yellow truck, and not tinkering, for about six months now. She was probably a bit jealous. At least she waited until the copper truck was done to act up.

Women just can't stand to see a guy doing "nothing". Sitting on the porch, enjoying the weather, drinking a few beers...

 

Well I was waiting for the 'uh oh' part of your thread, but im glad to see it was something simple... When I put my motor back in my truck I had one carb too intake bolt hole that was in bad shape and wouldn't really hold torque too well, I tried to ignore it for a bit, but the truck was having none of it, and wouldn't run worth a crap.... Sooooo I had to tap the intake bolt hole and put a new gasket on and WhaLa ! ran like a champ.... Every time I get lazy, I pay for it... then gotta do'er right........ My truck reminds frequently....

 

Psst... hey Jake..... it's "voila".. French for "there it is" or "there you are".

...And not "viola".. that is a stringed instrument.

 

That's what I got when I pulled up the French to Redneck translation on google

 

I don,t understand why the timeing was way off?

 

One word: chupacabra

 

those damn chupacabra are pesky little creatures

 

Below is proof that the Chupacabra was seen in a rare sighting in the vicinity of said yeller truck. Just prior to this sighting Chupracabra was identified at the local Taco Bell licking hot sauce packets according to eyewitnesses.

 

I think it was a combination of:

• raising the idle speed to attempt to compensate for the vacuum leak and
• the 10" of wild fluctuation in vacuum.

Probably the timing was fine before I messed with it.

Other areas of the country are plagued by gremlins, but in the SouthWest, we have Chupacabras...

 

Ain't it a bitch! If it's not vacuum advance related you might have sheared the pin in the dizzy. If so it will eventually go south again when it slips.