Ok, I'm having another problem and I don't know where to start. Just got finished rebuilding my carburetor and now the darn truck will run fine for just a few minutes or so and then acts like it has no power and then dies. I can crank it back up and run it for a minute or two and then it dies again. I just put a new fuel pump and filter on it about 6 months ago. I am about to go adjust the power valves on it and probably the fuel/air mix because it seems to be running rich. Could this also be a timing issue? Also, it does seem to be idling a little rougher than normal as well. Any help will be greatly appreciated.....
Oh yeah 87 D150 w/318 and Holley 2280....in case you don't feel like looking at my profile.

 

While I am on here and trying to figure this stuff out, can someone tell me what kind of ignition I've got. I've got pics......

 

Sounds like a lack of fuel delivery like you are using the fuel in the bowl and it is not being replaced fast enough and so it dies. What type fuel pump and filter are you using and are they stock? The first picture looks like your voltage regulator. The second picture looks like an SCC (Spark Control Computer) located behind the drivers side headlight. If you can, post a picture of the firewall area around the bulkhead connector and one of the left side fender area just under the drivers side hood spring.

 

Thank you very much for your reply. I just replace the fuel pump and it is a OEM mechanical fuel pump and fuel filter that I picked up from advance auto parts. I'm hoping it not something I did when I rebuilt the carb. I think I got the pics of the right things for you. Again, thank you.

 

Yep, it is an SCC. If you pull the fuel line at the carb and put it in a container and have someone crank it you can eliminate a fuel delivery problem. If that is not the problem I would think it is the carb rebuild from what you have told us. The SCC system was used with an EFC (electronic fuel control) system that relies on the O2 sensor to control the electronic feed back carburetor (also EFC) to control exhaust gas emissions.

 

Ok, I'll try that. Thank you for your help.

 

Can someone tell me if my dwell angle can be adjusted?

 

Can anyone tell me what the dwell angle is supposed to be? I cant find it in my books or on the internet. (The reading I got was about 25). I checked the timing and it looked to be about 8 degrees off(that may explain why it takes so long to crank). My vacuum pressure was ok, and when I checked my cylinder compression #2 and #4 were about 10psi lower than the others(about 90psi). Also, I can't find out how to adjust my idle speed, it's about 850-900 and the VECI label says it's supposed to be at 650. Can anyone tell me how to adjust the idle speed on the Holley 2280. My truck is running a little bit better now and I didn't even do anything to it. I just don't understand it.

 

Minimum compression should be 100 PSI with all readings within 25 PSI of each other. You might try doing the compression tests again with a squirt or 2 of oil in each cylinder to see if the valves or rings are the problem. With compression this low I would guess we are dealing with a high mileage engine and if that is the case the real problem may be the the timing chain and gears as they were not the 318s strong point. A worn timing chain will drive you nuts when tuning the engine because the timing keeps bouncing around. This may explain why it runs better when you didn't do anything and as you can imagine the idle setting will also be effected.

I can't remember ever setting dwell on an electronic ignition as dwell is used for points which I sincerely hope you do not have. LOL You do have an air gap adjustment, in fact the SCC system has 2, that can be checked with a (NON-METALLIC) feeler gauge. The air gap like dwell will effect your timing. The start pick-up gap is .006 and run gap is .008. Always adjust start gap first. To ID them the start pick-up coil has the larger of the 2 electrical connectors.

 

SEAL, thank you very much for the information. I got in my truck this morning to come to work and once again it ran like S**T, died on me 3 times, acted like it didn't want to start(like the battery was dead), and then cranked fine and idled rough. I've heard about the timing chain issues so I think I am going to go ahead and replace it(I heard it came with nylon gears, will I be able to replace them with metal? The engine has 97,859 original miles, which is pretty good for 23 years old, but it is still high. The whole SCC thing is confusing me. I looked it up in my Haynes manual and some of the parts it shows, I do not have(like the box on the air cleaner), I also do not see a O2 sensor on the exhaust manifold. If it is at all possible, could we meet up on yahoo messenger or MSN, whichever is easier, or I can even give you my phone number. I'm going to call my local dodge dealer and see if they can send me a build sheet for that truck and maybe it will tell me exactly what I have. Again, thank you very much for the info that you have given me.