my truck needs some attention...

my dad is really busy these days at work so i thought i would consult ya'll!!

my truck has a couple of problems...it is a 79' f250...i'm 17 so i am a moron:-X11 ..so please help me!!

it has problems staying started...like today, i was backing out a a parking space and when switching from reverse to drive it killed..and i tried it again and 4 times more it killed..it is a automatic so what is wrong with it?? is it spark plugs? and if so where do they go??? i can't find where they go in a 351 v8 engine?? how do i put them in?? what is the gap thing??? do i need to let it idle???


also, it makes a sort of " rea-rea-rea-rea" sound on the passenger side front when i accelerate??? what is that?? i don't think it is the fan belt!

i need to fix the exhaust pipe cause it is seperated from the muffler by abouit 2 inhes!! what is the process for that??

also i need a good seat cover site???


THANKS A MILLION YA'LL!!!

RANDY

 

Well, your idle could be set to low or your dashpot is worn out... The idle is fixed by adjusting a screw on the arm (on the carb) that the gas pedal connects to. The dashpot is the round thing behind the same arm that acts as a throtle stop... It prevents the engine from dropping to a complete idle when you let of the throttle... It buffers the throtle to idle... If its bad the a/t could be killing the engine...

As for the noise from the left front it sounds like a bad bearing or a brake dragging... pop off the little cover on the front of the hub in the center of the wheel (use a flathead screwdriver and a rubber hammer) and check if there is grease there and if it looks burnt...

The exhaust can be repaired by a muffler shop, or get a small roll of sheet metal from lowes and some tie wire and wrap the pipe... (temp fix but exhaust is expensive for a hs student)

Seat cover... any auto parts house should have a seat cover... about 20$~30$

Tyson

 

The Gap on the spark plug is how much space is between the firing tips. You have 8 spark plugs. Look at your distributor then follow the wires. About right above the headers. Pull the Wires off, and there are your spark plugs. Its really easy. Go to an auto store and tell them you truck and say u need a gap guage with your spark plugs if your gunna change um. I have the same problem with my 68 f100 360 reversing and putting it in drive sometimes. Its cold here though about 25 degrees. Try turing your idle up..its really easy, just a turn of the screw. I am 17 too and i know how much it sucks when u stall in the school parking lot over and over. But do some work on it take your time and you'll be suprised. I used to know nothing about engines about 4 months ago, now im about to install a new engine... maybe

 

The best help I can offer is for you to get a book or something and read up a little bit on basics of engines. This site is good for answering questions and all, but we can't teach you everything. And not to be insulting but if you don't know where to find your spark plugs you have some learning to do. The more you know the more this site can help you and easier it will be to help you. But if you aren't very familiar with mechanic work, then it's just all going to sound greek to you. I know a fair bit, although still learning, and even I get a little lost with the terminology and subjects floating around here sometimes. Hit the public library and get a good book to read up on. Just some free advice.

-j.banks-

 

Ok first thing is first. Go to your local parts store and order you a shop manual for your truck. I would suggest a Haynes Manual as they are more straight forward and written with a novice in mind. Second, while your there ask about a part time job if you don't alrady have one. Being in that environment you can learn alot, or see if a local mechanic wants help running parts or changing oil, again a learning opportunity. As for your problems heres what I think. Check the adjustment on your neutral saftey switch. And like the other mentioned check your idle. As for the noise, wow is it hard to diagnose by noise. Sounds localized so I would check brakes and bearings like was laready suggested, might not hurt to lube the chassis while your at it.

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 09-Jan-02 AT 11:50 AM (EST)]>my truck needs some attention...
>
>my dad is really busy these days at work so i thought i
>would consult ya'll!!
>
>my truck has a couple of problems...it is a 79' f250...i'm
>17 so i am a moron:-X11 ..so please help me!!
>
> it has problems staying started...like today, i was backing
>out a a parking space and when switching from reverse to
>drive it killed..and i tried it again and 4 times more it
>killed..it is a automatic so what is wrong with it?? is it
>spark plugs? and if so where do they go??? i can't find
>where they go in a 351 v8 engine?? how do i put them in??
>what is the gap thing??? do i need to let it idle???
>
>
>also, it makes a sort of " rea-rea-rea-rea" sound on the
>passenger side front when i accelerate??? what is that?? i
>don't think it is the fan belt!
>
>i need to fix the exhaust pipe cause it is seperated from
>the muffler by abouit 2 inhes!! what is the process for
>that??
>
>also i need a good seat cover site???
>
>
>THANKS A MILLION YA'LL!!!
>
>RANDY
===================================Here are a couple of sites you can learn things from.

Happy Reading !

http://www.autosite.com/garage/garmenu.asp

http://rollingmotors.com/

Dennis

Oh....Please Don't Ask Me Any Tough Questions As:
"I'm Saving Up MY Memory For When I Develop Alzheimer's"







78 F-150 429CJ C6 ,Silver w/Explorer Pkge
641/2 Mustang,Pre-World's Fair Car #8092
64 Fairlane S/C waiting for a 390-4spd.
68-Mustang.Sunlit Gold 80,000 miles