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

NJ wrote:[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]

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...
--
Tom - Vista, CA

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.

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]

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

"Wolfgang" <NOwolfXgang_dieterSPAM@NOXcox.net> wrote in message
news:2JVyf.3269$ZE.903@dukeread11...[color=blue]
> As someone else said you have a timing chain not a timing belt. @00k is[/color]
lot[color=blue]
> 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[/color]
to[color=blue]
> 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[/color]
and[color=blue]
> 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=green]
> > 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[/color][/color]
work[color=blue][color=green]
> > 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[/color][/color]
has[color=blue][color=green]
> > 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.[/color][/color]
If[color=blue][color=green]
> > they were, that would explain the sluggishness. I'm only getting about[/color][/color]
16[color=blue][color=green]
> > 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[/color][/color]
on[color=blue][color=green]
> > the floor. That indicates to me the 5th gear is to high for the[/color][/color]
conditions[color=blue][color=green]
> > 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[/color][/color]
second[color=blue][color=green]
> > time. Said it was the result of work his people did. Now the rearend[/color][/color]
seems[color=blue][color=green]
> > fine. My mechanic likes the truck and has offered to buy it...but I[/color][/color]
looked[color=blue][color=green]
> > 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[/color][/color]
shop[color=blue][color=green]
> > 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]
>
>[/color]