Have read through the forum and haven't seen anyone experiencing ALL the issues I'm having so heres another help me post.
I wrote a long post about issues and what I've done so far and my computer crashed when I hit send so heres another.
Truck-88 Dodge D-150, 318 TBI, auto.
Truck will crank and runs perfectly smooth for 30 seconds to a minute, then dies. I can feather the pedal and keep it running, but when I put it in gear it dies. If I feather the pedal while in gear and keep it going, it drives, but runs bogged down. If I stay on the pedal and drive it bogged down, it will eventually "break loose" and start driving perfectly. It will go through this bogging stage numerous time throughout the day and sometimes will clear up for the remainder of the day. So far I have gone through:
Coil-good
Injectors-good
plugs wires cap button-good
fuel pressure-good
vaccuum lines-good
rebuilt throttle body
new pressure regulator valve
Motor is 3yrs old from Advanced Auto Parts and trouble free up to now.Less than 20,000 on motor.
No check engine lights while having issues but did check engine light code test and got 17-bad thermostat or coolant sensor and 23- incoming air temp sensor may be bad. Would either of these cause these issues?
I have 3 days invested in trying to fix this problem and would love the satisfaction of fixing myself rather than taking it to a mechanic.

 

The computer uses both to calculate the fuel mix/timing. Since it seems to clear up after it gets fully warmed up?

 

Went to check air temp sensor and my manual said air temp sensor, MPFI only. Since I couldn't find an illustration of what it looked like, does that mean my TBI truck does not have one or simply that I cannot test mine?
As far as the coolant sensor, I remembered why I got that code. Years ago my temp guage went out and I swapped to a manual guage. When I unhooked the pigtail from the old sensor and cranked my truck, I got the check engine light. I now have the old sensor just laying on top of the block with the pigtail attached so I don't get a check engine light and go off the manual temp guage to monitor the motor. It's been that way at least two years with no issues.
Started to check everything on the emmisions since I've ruled out a fuel or electrical issue but don't have a vacuum tester or pump and I hate to invest in one with 100.00 invested already and no positive results. In these tought times, the wife keeps frowning each time I come in with a new parts store reciept, but yet no improvment in the vehicle.

 

Next might be o2 sensor?

 

The gauge sending unit and temp sensor are two completely different things.

 

I'll take a stab at the temp sensor and O2 sensor when I work off. Thanks

 

well might as well change the thermostat since its cheap. who knows could be gunked up and messing with the temperature causing things to run wierd. consider the trucks computer too. Was that changed whith the new engine?

 

I believe the proceeding suggestions are all very good ones, however I tend to try to begin at even simpler ideas. Such as, did this trouble begin shortly after fueling your truck? Perhaps you got a bad batch of gas. I have had that happen before and had about the same symptoms as you are describing. Along that path I might consider the fuel filter. When you checked the fuel pressure were you able to do so with the motor running or did you get only a static pressure? I recall an older truck that I had that suffered about the same troubles and I found that I had sucked a foil off one the heat bottles into the fuel inlet pickup, now while I am not saying this is your trouble, it lends another idea. Take a look at fuel lines to make sure one ha not become kinked or in some other way obstructed.

 

Finally worked off yesterday and back on this problem. Thought I'd answer a couple questions and update:

nemisisSS-The thermostat was changed over the summer. I know this doesn't make it good, but not having any overheating issues. As far as the computer, I'm using the original one. Could be an issue, but due to price of another one, that will probably be my last resort.

83dodgeswb4x4-The problem has been off and on enough that I've gone through a tank of gas or two. Since your idea was a simple and cheap fix I did try and address it today. I siphoned out as much gas as I had containers to hold it. I got it to less than a quarter of a tank. I changed the fuel filter and added a bottle of STP gas treatment. When I cranked the truck it stayed idle for three or four minutes without stalling, the longest time yet. (I'm not sure if the unusually warm weather played a part in this since it was 70 degrees vs 20 to 40 degrees the other days when it wouldn't stay running idle). While it was still idling fine, I jumped in and drove a mile down the road to the gas station and put in 20 dollars worth of 93 octane, hoping that would boost my bad gas if that was indeed the problem. After leaving the gas station, the truck started bogging down again and stayed that way for most of the drive home. I had my foot all the way to the floor and the truck would only go about 5 mph uphill.

I've gone and ordered a throttle body air charge sensor and O2 sensor. I'll try that tomorrow and update everyone. Maybe some of this info will help somone else experiencing the same issues.

 

Put on the O2 sensor and temp sensor but the results were the same. Tired of messing with this thing, took to a mechanic. I'll let you know the results.