Could be 02 sensor is trashed from running w/ bad cat for so long, or sensor related. Sounds like your problems occur when the pcm goes into open loop. Put a scanner on it. If it is not running hot, and you can live with the periodic stalling, you could buy a scanner. It will save you headaches and moneydown the road, and can be used on all obdII vehicle 1996 and up- wife/girlfriend, family, friends, etc. This is the one I got:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/EQUUS...spagenameZWDVW

I paid ~$100 iirc.
It will tell you what all the sensors are reading in real time anddisplay code #'s along with there description. If you are having a problem it can take a snapshot of all the sensor readings as they were when the problem occured. If a code comes up then it will automatically take a snapshot.It will not do fuel sync.

 

i'll have my wife check this out and i will buy one if we have some extra money in the bank
but she'll have to ok it first. because she is going to school fulltime and money is tight.

 

It will eventually pay for itself. I don't know what your mechanic charges, but, if you are able to accurately diagnose a problem, get the part to fix it, and install it you will save a money. Especially if you're like me and have a bunch of older vehicles. You can see it for yourself in the forums; "well I replaced this and it did'nt help", then I replaced that....and that....etc. Until the luck runs good and the right guess is finally made. Upside to doing itthisway you end up with a bunch of 'spare' parts.

 

yeah it may be a couple months because in 11 weeks she is gonna get a job.
so we will be making almost 5000.00 a month together and i can buy all the stuff i need to get it running right.
thanks for the help mopowar

 

You might take your truck to a repair facility & have them use an infra-red device to measure your radiator inlet & outlet temperature(These devices are quiet common. )The measurement verify your temperature gage accuracy & thermostat operation.