Wrapper

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.

"NJ" <nwilliams@door.net> wrote in message
news:fKednY9PzI-S2VfenZ2dnUVZ_tudnZ2d@valortelecom.com...[color=blue]
> 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
>
>
>[/color]