Their is no vacuum advance starting on the late 88 models like mine. It is the first year that PCM came out in the trucks. Timing is controlled by the computer but can be adjusted with a light etc. as long as the coolant temp sensor is unplugged during the adjustment. Since you have mentioned this, its a good way to describe how my truck runs. It reminds me of the older vehicles with a vacuum advance that is not working. My PCM is also pretty new. I will pull the distributor in a few days and look at the lower end of it. I SEVERELY smashed my thumb today so one hand will be out of commission for a bit.

 

Oh
Perhaps a flaky crank position sensor?

 

Mine truck doesen't have a CPS.

 

NO NEED TO GET TESTY.

I'm through tossing out ideas. Have fun.

 

symtoms are......

"vrooooooom vrooooooooooooooooooom......chug blah..........reee...reee.reee.reeee.reeee....."

das about it

 

I,m verry sorry about the cap locks being on, I did not realize it. I went back and edited it. I definitely wasn't being testy, I very much appreciate all of your help. Again, many thanks. Tim.

 

Sounds like the same demon I've been chasing for the past several years. I have a '91 D150, 318 TBI, Auto w/OD, 166k miles. What's worse than the fact that it has failed the sniffer test for the past several years is that it runs so bad that I hate to drive it. Anyway, check out the '91 D150 TBI to Carb. conversion thread. I've done alot of what you did as well as installing a new distributor (with new cap, rotor, plugs, wires, etc.) and a new timing chain and gear set. Still won't get out of its own way! I haven't rebuilt the heads yet, but figured I'd do that at the same time as the bottom end. I've been to the dealer and the shops with the engine analyzers and they can't tell me what's wrong either.
Sorry, but I'm out of ideas too. When you find the problem, I'd really like to know what it was. Good luck!

 

I too have an 86 Dodge Ram Van 3.7ltr 225 1bbl carb.
it just wont move.
I used to be able to run hills in third geer but now she just wont do it.

I have run carb cleaners through it and tuned her up and run high octain and no go.
now she runs for a bit then stalls when ideling.
I dont see any fuel and air mixture screws to set the carb.

are there any on this one that anyone knows of.?

 

There is no way you should be able to turn the crank pulley for 1.5 inches and have the engine run correct. This probably has the original timing chain and gears. The Camshaft gear is probably the plastic coated one that they used to call a "silent" gear. Replace the timing chain and gears and invest a few bucks more for the Double Roller Chain set-up. If some of the plastic is missing off the gear than you need to drop the crankcase and clean it out and the oil pump pick up screen as this palstic can plug lots of things.

www.misterfixit.com/chanslop.htm

 

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