Ok, so I bought this truck (see eblow) and it ran great(relative term to 30 year old beat up truck). So anyway I looked at the oil and it probably hadn't been changed since the day it was bought. It was completely BLACK and really thick. So I decided......... better change the oil. So I go to walmart and buy there super tech something or other......... it's the 84cent oil (highschool, part time job, absolutely NO money) but I do paritaly good, I got a motorcraft filter. So after putting around trying to find the oil plug and afraid to pull the one I do find cause Im not for sure that it is the right plug, pulling the plug, releasing cascades of what appears to be crude oil, draining the oil, straining with the oil filter for 45 min, trying to find out where to put the oil, putting in 5 quarts letting it sit, and then driving it, I found a couple of things. One that after driving it, and it sounding massively different (one firing of the engine doesn't match the others and sounds different) I looked at the oil level. Hmmmm ok, it's low, says I need another quart...... so I put one in. And it's still puttering sounding like it's threatning to die....... well I checked agian and it still says add another quart. Im at 6 quarts. This thing didn't leak oil before, im going to check in a bit to see if it now.....
So anyway after all taht babble heres my questions. One when it was starting up it wouldn't, I'd have to pump the gas to get it to start. (this could be from other stuff I did, painting filter holder thingy and cleaning) Second it sounds different. One firing doesn't sound the same. It kinda pfftts instead if banging. Also if im driving it kinda sputters when im braking, like it's going to die. This is pathetic but im afriad my much loved truck is going to die please..... help it. -myers

 

Do you by any chance have any friends who are mechanically inclined? It sounds like this motor needs a good ear and some serious tuning before you can really determine what's going on. An extremely long list of things to check from this point. All the V8s take 6 quarts of oil (with a new filter). The misfiring could be your timing, any of it's components, spark plugs,,, Do a basic maitenance on the engine, replace the plugs, wires, rotor, cap, fuel filter, all that fun stuff. Any time you get a new motor (used), should always start it fresh with these changes. Then the problems you come across are much easier to diagnose. The idle speed is off badly, thus the wanting to die on you when you're stopped. Oh yeah, and the first thing you should buy is a basic shop manual. Learn all you can with those changes and come on back

 

Ya im going to buy a shop manual..... after I save up the $50 to get a complete one. I am mechanicaly inclined..... most of that is with guns though. My brother is a mechanic.......... but if he doesn't feel like looking at it then he won't. I might be able to persuade him to tonight. Thanks for your help though. Im in the process of changing all the fluids, and filters. thanks agian -myers

 

Good idea,, if the motor had that oil in that long, I'd change it at least three times, with a flush in between each one. Meaning,, leave the oil plug out and run two quarts through

 

if it ran great b4 you changed oil look over everything make sure the plug wires are on RIGHT at both ends the pcv is plugged in all vacum lines are on sounds like you unplugged something and created a problen

 

Sounds like you have a brake booster leaking. Does it seem to have a hard to push pedal. Unhook the vacuum line to the booster and see if it runs any better.
Having to pump it to start could be bad accel pump in carb. Look into carb and pump gas, it should shoot a good stream.

 

i know what it's like being a teenager without money, it sucks. talk your brother or someone into helping you do a tune up. the bes thing you can do is find someone who knows exactly what they are doing and get them to help you. knowlege is power. make sure you set the timing to 6 degrees, and after you figure out your carbureter problems, a conversion to a manual choke wouldn't hurt. the kit is cheap and it made my engine run a lot smother.

 

Sage advice, 78