New Member with engine issues

Hi,
I just bought a 1986 B2000 with 174,000 for $600. I've had the truck for two weeks and have just been trying to clean things up a bit and decide what the plans are for the truck. My immediate goal is to have it static dropped, run some chrome esky's and a paint job. Anyway, it drove just fine till yesterday. Now it won't pull past 3K RPM's and smokin like a chimney.

I've read it could possibly be the cats fried or just that the engine is just tired and needs to be replaced. The muffler looks like it has been recently replaced but the cat looks kinda old. I was just going to take it off and gut it for now and hope it comes back to life. Is there a precat and the mid mounted cat with this truck? Any other suggestions, tips or ideas? Thanks. Here is a pic of the day I brought it home. Love that tool box huh?

that truck has 2 cats. one botlted to the ex mani and one undr the cab. most likely the first one is shot. does it have any power b4 3000k or is it weak to that point?

Byron wrote:

that truck has 2 cats. one botlted to the ex mani and one undr the cab. most likely the first one is shot. does it have any power b4 3000k or is it weak to that point?

Driving around under 2K RPM's it is moving well under it's own power. As you drive to about 2.5K RPM's it starts to want to choke itself out and at 2700 it just won't gain any more immediate power. Sitting in neutral at a light it free rev's to 4-5K effortlessly except the black smoke starts up.

The fuel pump, filter and plugs were changed right before I bought it as a side note. How do you take out the 1st cat if that is the problem? Any idea's?

it sounds like the cat me. i'd also lean toward it being the the first one. to get it out... there are 3 bolts holdn it to the ex mani and then the piping at bottom has 2 bolts (i think). there is also a bracket that attaches to the side of the block from the cat, 2 bolts. not too bad to get out, as long as it's not too rusty. rust = pain in the butt. good luck.

pull it off and put a header on it. you can get a pacesetter for about 150-160 shipped.

roadracer wrote:

pull it off and put a header on it. you can get a pacesetter for about 150-160 shipped.

Right now i am just hoping I'm not looking at an engine swap. If the cat is the problem or something minor that would be just great with me. More interested in getting suspension done, wheels, paint and stereo in right now. Weather is still good for crusing a few more months and I would like to look good doing it.

check the lobes on your cam as well. mine started doing kind of the same thing youre talking about, and found the last 2 lobes scratched up.

If i need to replace internal parts or buy a rebuild one I may just have to step up and drop in a 1986 TPI L98 I have that is already to go into something. I would rather my son learn to drive a mild powered ride with a manual trans though.

I have been reading about other swaps too, so much to learn.

UPDATE: Well there is a early and late version of the exhaust system on '86 trucks appararantly. Mine is early and there is no precat. The exhaust system on a 20+ year old truck is pretty fragile and broken or stripped bolts were the word of the day. Got the cat off and it was totally gummed up. I'll use it during the next solar eclipse to look though and i will be fine.

There was just a little bit of light shining though, other that that caked solid. I snapped one of the bolts though and just left if off till next week when I have time to gut it and try to drill out the broken bolt and re-install it. Surprisingly not very loud.

The truck runs better now than it ever has since I got it. Black smoke has been replaced with grey but at least it's not rolling smoke than throws up a smoke screen like in a war movie.

I bought some lowering blocks today and played with the torsion bars a little. Time to get that part finished for now and on to bigger things. Thanks for all the help. DC ROCKS..

glad you found the problem.

post up some pics of your current altitude.

roadracer wrote:

post up some pics of your current altitude.

SkyHigh and nowhere to go but down. I got some 3" blocks this afternoon but after wrestling with the exhaust for several hours I called it a day. The guy that helped today I am trying to get together with tomorrow at his house and put the blocks in. He has air tools and that is just so better than what we did earlier.

I am still a little confused with the torsion bar re-indexing. I am a visual guy, show me a picture that goes alot farther than than just telling me what to do. As soon as i get it dropped I will be putting up pictures right away though. Maybe another week, hopefully in tomorrow though.