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Sluggish 91 Ext Cab 4wd 22re

My pickup seems to start and run smoothly, but I can't help but think I have some compromise. This truck has 200,000 miles on it and has had some work done on it, but I don't have the information on what has been done...previous owner told me he had extensive work done and referenced the timing belt and would provide the paperwork, but never did and now he has skipped the country.

I got a great buy on the truck $2100, so now I just gotta do some home work to tweak it.

I'm concerned the engine may not be producing the horsepower it is supposed to. When running in 5th gear it seems to lug. Tires are not oversized. If they were, that would explain the sluggishness. I'm only getting about 16 to

17 mpg. Seems that is a bit low. I can be running 70 in 4th and shift to 5th and it has a hard time holding the speed...you have to keep accelerator on the floor. That indicates to me the 5th gear is to high for the conditions the truck is running under. In 4th you can run all the way up to about 80 - 85 and it seems fine....my Dad says just run in 4th if you think it is lugging... I can do that, but I think my mileage is suffering.

Oil pressure gauge indicates good oil pressure and it doesn't smoke. It doesn't use any oil. I checked plugs and they are Bosch Platinum 4 and look to be in good shape. It has a K&N Filter and I've serviced it.

After I got it, I had a mechanic check out a roaring and he found a carrier bearing out and the bearings in the rear differential were rough. He replaced them. About 400 miles later, the pickup starts a making a knocking noise from the rear end. A trip back to the mechanic indicated the bearings they installed were not done right and the ring and pinon gear had to be replaced. My mechanic didn't even try to charge me for the work the second time. Said it was the result of work his people did. Now the rearend seems fine. My mechanic likes the truck and has offered to buy it...but I looked hard for a truck like this and I don't want to part with it....right now anyway...

I wonder if others with this type of truck have had a similar experience and if the truck came out with the fifth gear a bit tall.

I've got to get it inspected and I know the muffler needs replacing. I'm having a nearby muffler shop redo the exhaust system. I have had folks tell me I need to have the catalytic converter removed. I don't think this shop will do that.

I'd like to hear from other folks who have had experience with this type of engine, and drive train to compare notes. I'd like to explore options to make this truck perform a bit better.

All feedback appreciated...

NJ

Reply to
NJ
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At about 165,000 miles, I had a new exhaust system (cat, muffler, etc.) put on my '88 2WD pickup with a 22R (carburetor). I looked in the cat converter and noticed a clear area about one inch or so in diameter, the rest looked clogged. With the new exhaust system installed, it performed much better and the gas mileage improved as well. I don't have any numbers for the improvement, just seat-of-the-pants, daily driving impression.

I've read other reports of cat converters being quite restricted and causing a drop in performance.

After the change I don't know if you need to do any kind of reset on your computer, or whether it will compensate for the changes.

Also, I would replace the O2 sensors, unless you know when they were last replaced...

Reply to
TOM

Check for any trouble codes stored in the computer.

- If any are found, fix the issues that caused them. Check the timing (5 BTDC is correct) with the timing check jumper installed.

- Many folks do not know that the jumper needs to be installed to properly set the timing.

- If the timing is set w/o the jumper, the timing ends up severely retarded with a subsequent loss of power.

- Might also want to check that the timing chain was properly installed, if it is off one tooth either way, a loss of power can result. Check that the EGR valve is working properly. Also check that the catalytic converter is not clogged. Might also want to test the O2 sensor(s) to see if they are working properly. When they age, they can get sluggish in responding to mixture canges and that can impact fuel economy and/or power.

Reply to
R. Brown

As someone else said you have a timing chain not a timing belt. @00k is lot of miles on valves, rings and pistons so do a compression check. DO NOT remove cat converter --- very illegal in most states and no real benefit to engine or us breathing the earth's air. Go with a slightly large diameter free flow one and exhaust if desired. Ever adjusted the valves? Ever cleaned the throtle body? Injectors (run bottle of Chevron Techron thru and see if that helps --- lese send them to DOA Racing and have them rebuilt/calibrated.

Reply to
Wolfgang

Wolfgang:

Thanks for the response...

I had the exhaust system replaced and the truck now seems to be even more sluggish.

I've taken it to my mechanic for him to review...

I guess real mystery is what work was done by the previous owner.... I suspect something set wrong regarding the timing "belt" but we'll see.

I enjoy reading the posts on this board... some interesting people with interesting views.

I'll keep board posted on how this works out...

Anyone explain why my original post soes not appear on my outlook express news reader???

Thanks NJ

Reply to
NJ

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