engine problems......help

[bojak]

I took my truck to my buddy's shop for him to install a lift for me. He gives me the brother in law rate but the catch is he works on it between real customers. That is code for some time after I start fussing around the month mark. So I dropped off a freshly tuned up truck that ran really good. Small block with TBI. 6 weeks later he calls and says come get it. I show up and it runs like crap. Blowing black smoke, sputtering idel, have to pump it to get it to fire. So far that has equalled new dizzy, new tpi sensor, another set of new plugs and wires and we are not really any closer to figuring out what the real problem is. Does anyone have any suggestions where to look from here? I feel sorry for my buddy and pissed at the same time. I know it's not his fault, but it was running great when I left it and now its not and I'm trying to put out a fire with money. His latest suggestion is ditch the TBI for carb which means intake as well. Which means moooorrrreeeeee freaking money. Any suggestion are really appreciated.