I feel like I messed up bad - new to me truck issues after purchase

[54blackhornet]

IT don’t get frustrated ! If IT means what I think it does I’m sure you can learn rather quickly all about these rather simple vehicles.

[dagnabbitt]

Looks like a nice truck, whatever problem you are having will be fixed, don't worry.

[IT Cowboy]

Originally Posted by 54blackhornet

IT don’t get frustrated ! If IT means what I think it does I’m sure you can learn rather quickly all about these rather simple vehicles.

I need to offload some info to be able to make room for more. I am a do it myself type guy and used to be a contractor, horse trainer, bottle washer, and overall handyman. I used to work on my truck in HS so I need to think back. It is only fire and fuel and oxygen all in a big air pump. I have a tundra that I need to hook up to a PC to turn off a seat belt chime smh.

[IT Cowboy]

Someone mentioned the highlander as not being a truck, I think it was an option for the seat fabric in different plaid colors.

[Stocker]

Congrats on your new truck, it looks like a real beauty. My truck once ran similar, at least in part, to what you're describing. Turned out to be a clogged filter in the Q-jet carb. I replaced the old paper filter with a new sintered bronze filter and the problem was solved. Good luck, you'll find / fix it.

[Rust_never_sleeps]

These things are analog systems, and there are no logs, codes, or diags, so it'll take a shift in your thinking to troubleshoot them, but you're used to using logic, so you'll get the hang of it.
What carb are you running and were you able to exclude any potential problems?
Like anything else, figuring out what it ain't, helps figure out what it is

[IT Cowboy]

The part that sucked is no parts stores were open or even close, I was far away from home and it was getting dark soon. If I had some time, an safe place to look at it then I could have started diagnosing it. I checked it onto a close by repair shop and am going to have it towed to a mechanic that work with older motors. I could have it towed home but it would cost me more than having the issue looked at there. Unfortunately I need to work Monday and can't go down with a truck load of parts and do it myself. I supposed I could rent a tow trailer but that is just time and money not towards the problem

I am probably going to have new preventative parts put on it like new plug and coil wires, new rubber fuel lines, maybe a new coil and HEI dist. but I am hoping to have the main issue found and fixed first just so I know what the issue is/was vs just throwing parts at it and not knowing.

Thanks all for the encouragement and support. I keep tools in my Tundra and I am kind of independent and do not like when I can't take care of an issue on my own.

[dmjlambert]

There are not many "new preventative parts" to be had from China that are better than 50 year old parts. When I got my truck and started working on it I had to shift my thinking a bit. I would get the new parts and some would fall apart in my hands before I could even get them on the truck, and others would work for a short while and crap out. Proceed with a little bit of caution and save your old parts for a while if practical.

[PbFut]

Look into a AAA membership. Worth every penny simply for piece of mind. Tow service, at least in my area, is very good. I had a 90 mile tow couple years back. No cost.

[Rust_never_sleeps]

Originally Posted by IT Cowboy

The part that sucked is no parts stores were open or even close, I was far away from home and it was getting dark soon. If I had some time, a safe place to look at it then I could have started diagnosing it. I checked it onto a close by repair shop and am going to have it towed to a mechanic that work with older motors. I could have it towed home but it would cost me more than having the issue looked at there. Unfortunately I need to work Monday and can't go down with a truck load of parts and do it myself. I supposed I could rent a tow trailer but that is just time and money not towards the problem
......

Dragging it home is annoying, but at least you'll already know how much of your day you'll be burning to get it home, where you can work on it "at your leisure"

[howzzzit]

Originally Posted by PbFut

Look into a AAA membership. Worth every penny simply for piece of mind. Tow service, at least in my area, is very good. I had a 90 mile tow couple years back. No cost.

Ditto on the AAA card. AAA Plus 100 mile tow. AAA Premier 200 mile tow. The basic card is only 5 miles.

[72c20customcamper]

I had AAA they weren’t the best and the last time I waited two hours for a tow no return calls got the runaround when I called them I canceled them and went with Hagerty roadside assistance was less expensive and the two times I used it they were fantastic . Called me back after the initial call to say the truck would be there within the hour . And called me when the tow was arriving . Then a follow up call the next day to see if I had any issues.

[57taskforce]

Originally Posted by 72c20customcamper

I had AAA they weren’t the best and the last time I waited two hours for a tow no return calls got the runaround when I called them I canceled them and went with Hagerty roadside assistance was less expensive and the two times I used it they were fantastic . Called me back after the initial call to say the truck would be there within the hour . And called me when the tow was arriving . Then a follow up call the next day to see if I had any issues.

Yep I’ve got Hagerty roadside on three of mine and couldn’t be happier!

[PbFut]

We are way OT on AAA topic. Sorry my fault. One last point. ALL the national tow services contract with local providers. Service level will vary depending on location.

[IT Cowboy]

I have basic towing on my DD vehicles, I nver thought about adding it to this new one as I am still shopping. My regular carrier covers me for new purchases for a small window and I should have checked if they would have covered the tow.

There are small blessings I guess and I am proof that Jesus looks out for stupid people. I do not have a good mechanic here, and there are several classic car mechanics in the metro area where I left the truck. I didnt break down on the mountain pass on the way home or in BFE where it would have sat for hours IF I could have gotten a tow.

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by IT Cowboy

Someone mentioned the highlander as not being a truck, I think it was an option for the seat fabric in different plaid colors.

57Taskforce said that the Heritage Edition (mentioned in your 1st post) was not a Chevy thing. Unless I missed another post that made reference to the Highlander.

[vics stuff]

Originally Posted by truckster

I'm guessing it's the fuel sock. It's on the end of the pickup tube, and after so many years it's rotten. It gets sucked in while you're running down the road. When you stop or reduce the demand it lets fuel flow.

It's actually a pretty common problem on older vehicles. The fix is to remove the sending unit, pull off all remnants of the sock, and replace the fuel filter.

He is right in that prognosis. That is where I would start.
Vic

[72c20customcamper]

Originally Posted by PbFut

We are way OT on AAA topic. Sorry my fault. One last point. ALL the national tow services contract with local providers. Service level will vary depending on location.

Happens with every thread . Yes they all contract with local shops . But AAA pays the shop peanuts most around here won’t deal with them that’s the rub .

[Rick Bollinger]

When I buy a new "old" vehicle there are things that I just do to make sure it is ready and reliable. Change or at least remove and check rubber fuel lines. Change all fuel filters. This is after I run as much fuel as I can out of tank. Add sea foam for the first couple of tanks of fresh gas to help clean any gummy stuff up. If it has points change it out to electronic ign. Spark plug wires if there is any doubt replace them and plugs. don't forget about PCV valve and air filter. After a fresh tune up you can really get a feel for trouble areas like maybe a carb rebuild. It looks like you got a really nice truck. Get the maintaince in order and you will be able to drive it anywhere.

[IT Cowboy]

Now instead of lay awake at night and think about everything I have to get done at work I am laying awake wondering what could be wrong with the truck lol.

These forums are helpful but I will also think of a question at night so I grab my tablet and start searching, but I am old so I don't sleep a lot anyway.

I was wondering why it would surge so much under load and more above 40 mph but be ok when idling or just revving at a higher rpm then I read similar problems on these forums where it was the timing, and another was fuel. One issue was a user had two plug wires on the wrong spark plugs.

The truck is still waiting to be towed to the shop where they will look at it. If they dont get to it in a few days I might just rent a u-haul trailer and go get it myself. I need to look if it will fit on a u-haul with its wheel base.

[Sheepdip]

Originally Posted by IT Cowboy

Now instead of lay awake at night and think about everything I have to get done at work I am laying awake wondering what could be wrong with the truck lol.

These forums are helpful but I will also think of a question at night so I grab my tablet and start searching, but I am old so I don't sleep a lot anyway.

I was wondering why it would surge so much under load and more above 40 mph but be ok when idling or just revving at a higher rpm then I read similar problems on these forums where it was the timing, and another was fuel. One issue was a user had two plug wires on the wrong spark plugs.

The truck is still waiting to be towed to the shop where they will look at it. If they dont get to it in a few days I might just rent a u-haul trailer and go get it myself. I need to look if it will fit on a u-haul with its wheel base.

You need to ask around and find a well recommended maverick Hot Rod tuner in your area. The good ones leave no stone unturned and will make it run, if they can't ...they can tell you why it won't run.

[57taskforce]

Originally Posted by IT Cowboy

Now instead of lay awake at night and think about everything I have to get done at work I am laying awake wondering what could be wrong with the truck lol.

These forums are helpful but I will also think of a question at night so I grab my tablet and start searching, but I am old so I don't sleep a lot anyway.

I was wondering why it would surge so much under load and more above 40 mph but be ok when idling or just revving at a higher rpm then I read similar problems on these forums where it was the timing, and another was fuel. One issue was a user had two plug wires on the wrong spark plugs.

The truck is still waiting to be towed to the shop where they will look at it. If they dont get to it in a few days I might just rent a u-haul trailer and go get it myself. I need to look if it will fit on a u-haul with its wheel base.

At least Part of this is probably Because the carburetor secondaries aren’t open in a no/low load scenario. When the secondaries open it needs more fuel. When RPM’s increase along with load it needs more fuel. Your issue could also easily be plugged jets/passages in the carb or even a combination of things. It’s not very easy to guess at sometimes, you or your mechanic just have to dig in and see what you find.

[Jason Banks]

Originally Posted by PbFut

We are way OT on AAA topic. Sorry my fault. One last point. ALL the national tow services contract with local providers. Service level will vary depending on location.

I have had great luck with AAA. But the one time I really needed them I was very far from one of their contracted Towing companies. Basically 2 hours in either direction. I ended up getting a local tow company in the area and submitted the bill for $200+ and AAA reimbursed me for the expense.

[Loose Screw]

Run premium gas with some additive

Clean the carb with carb cleaner

Change the air cleaner

Is there a fuel filter? Change it.

clip in a glass fuel filter, see if there is any junk in the gas

read your spark plugs

spray some carb cleaner around air lines, see if you get surging

go from there

[IT Cowboy]

Small update in original post (op)