I registered the truck in TX because I knew it wouldn't pass smog & I needed to drive it. I planned to put all the smog stuff back on, but I'm too lazy I guess.
I got the truck almost fixed. After replacing the intake gasket, the backfire was worse & the exhaust was still too hot. I then decided to plug off the hoses from the smog pump to the check valves on the air tubes going into the exhaust. That totally fixed the backfire & now only the pass side exhaust glows after a test drive. That's the side that started this whole mess. I had an exhaust leak that I unsucessfully tried to fix on that side. Maybe it's still leaking & pulling air in there, but I thought that would make it backfire if it was pulling air in there.
I also got bit**-slapped by the wife when she heard my plan to sell the truck at a loss & buy a motorcycle. She won't let me sell it & she won't let me get a bike either. I love her so she gets her way most of the time. I guess I'm not selling the truck.
I appreciate you guys making suggestions on what could be causing my problems. This board rocks.