About to take on a project getting it back on the road.

[Texas021]

So background on my 1989 ram w150, with a 318, 3 speed auto. i got it when i was 15 back in high school. Drove it a year. Got parked due to brake failure fast forward several years. I wanna get it running again,

i know it does run on starting fluid as of a few years ago.

My questions is fuel pump. Do a holly drop in that way i have the fuel system for efi. Or go with a cheap fuel pump in a gas can to see if it does things. I dont know much on the early tbi stuff. Then figure out why brakes failed. Half of me wants to do new brake system.

Once i start this project its gonna be a treat once its done.

 

[Texas021]

Also its a southern kept truck. Will check it over prior to moving it and snag pics should be surface rust.

 

[Stoffregen Motors]

Nice to see you bringing it back to life. Am I understanding correctly that it is a TBI engine? Or are you saying it is carb'd and you want EFI? If it's EFI, the fuel pump is pretty generic and there are dozens of pumps that will fit in that fuel module.

Over the years, I have resurrected hundreds of vehicles and there is one major lesson I have learned. When bringing a vehicle back to life, one that has been sitting for many years, it is going to need more than just a few new parts. Literally every rubber part in the mechanical system will need to be replaced. This means fuel, brake and cooling hoses, calipers and wheel cylinders, brake master, fuel pump and water pump. Sometimes even the seals in the engine dry up and fail from sitting.

So while you are replacing the fuel pump, go ahead and disconnect all of the fuel hoses, blow out the hard lines with air. Replace the hoses, with hose that meets the standards of the new fuels (SAE rating). Replace the filter too. Oh, and it will also be a good idea to flush the tank. This way, your fuel system is 100% and you can check that system off the list. You might get lucky and not have to rebuild the throttle body, but there are a couple of injectors in there that can get gummed up, and seals that keep them tight. I'd roll the dice on the TBI and see if it works first.

 

[turkeybird56]

Nice to see you bringing it back to life. Am I understanding correctly that it is a TBI engine? Or are you saying it is carb'd and you want EFI? If it's EFI, the fuel pump is pretty generic and there are dozens of pumps that will fit in that fuel module.

Over the years, I have resurrected hundreds of vehicles and there is one major lesson I have learned. When bringing a vehicle back to life, one that has been sitting for many years, it is going to need more than just a few new parts. Literally every rubber part in the mechanical system will need to be replaced. This means fuel, brake and cooling hoses, calipers and wheel cylinders, brake master, fuel pump and water pump. Sometimes even the seals in the engine dry up and fail from sitting.

So while you are replacing the fuel pump, go ahead and disconnect all of the fuel hoses, blow out the hard lines with air. Replace the hoses, with hose that meets the standards of the new fuels (SAE rating). Replace the filter too. Oh, and it will also be a good idea to flush the tank. This way, your fuel system is 100% and you can check that system off the list. You might get lucky and not have to rebuild the throttle body, but there are a couple of injectors in there that can get gummed up, and seals that keep them tight. I'd roll the dice on the TBI and see if it works first.

Them TBI's sit, they can be finicky. But Stoffregen gave U good advice. ESPECIALLY on replacing all RUBBER: Hoses, fuel lines, vac lines, etc, that stuff all rots when sits. Flush tank, engine and cooling system too, and that is just to start. IT will be a Project but be great when finished, but gonna cost you some $$$$$ for sure.

Tires too, sitting they dry rot.

 

[Stoffregen Motors]

Them TBI's sit, they can be finicky. But Stoffregen gave U good advice. ESPECIALLY on replacing all RUBBER: Hoses, fuel lines, vac lines, etc, that stuff all rots when sits. Flush tank, engine and cooling system too, and that is just to start. IT will be a Project but be great when finished, but gonna cost you some $$$$$ for sure.

Tires too, sitting they dry rot.

Sounds like you've been around this block. What experience have you had with the TBI? Is it the injectors? Or sticking throttle plates? Or ???

 

[Stoffregen Motors]

I have a few pics of the TBI from when I rebuilt the one in my forest service truck thread. I'll post a couple here. And a pic of the in tank fuel module so you can see how generic it really is.

 

[turkeybird56]

Sounds like you've been around this block. What experience have you had with the TBI? Is it the injectors? Or sticking throttle plates? Or ???

Not mechanic, just played the game. Had 86 Jimmy, 4.3, friggin TBI was all gummed up, had sat. Got rebuild kit, cleaned all, put back together, and it actually worked. Rather have a CARB anyday than friggin TBI. They can take dat EFI junkola, like the old Chrysler transistor boxes, ugggggggggggggg.

I just turned wrench cause had to in those days. Especially before I went in military, early 70's. Learned on a 396, 350, 305 back in da day. Friend used to run his Chrysler 300 NY (1965) and another friend had Magnum Coronet RT (1968) (440 3/4 cam). BUT those days are FAR behind me.

Now I enjoy the nanny mobile known as RAM, lmao.

CAVEAT: I "gobble" internally when I go to dealership, and they start talking all this BS on wat is now needed, etc etc.,. The only thing I keep up on besides reg MX is mileage schedule per manual due to warranty. But my RAM is a driveway princess. Does round trip to town,, like 12 miles, but rarely sees Interstate speeds, once in a while I can hit a 75 mph road and I open it up.,. but usually rural speeds. (26,700 on Odometer). (not bad for 7 yoa truck).

 

[Stoffregen Motors]

I'm with you. I used to be all about EFI, but my daily driver now is a '77 Jeep Cherokee, with a 360 and a carburetor. I love the simplicity and I know if it breaks, I can still limp home.

 

[turkeybird56]

Them Cherokees are kewl. I had a '74 with the great (304) POS, AWD. Had to use "sledge" hammer to get brake hubs off, roflmao. BUT it could go anywhere and it pulled everything outta ditches and stuff back in the winter.

Sometimes I wish I had that old 74, or even my 68 Cutlass Supreme with the Jet Rocket 350, 2 speed auto, ragtop. Wat a machine, and I sold it when I got married. Should have "ditched" the spouse and kept the car, roflmao.

ADDED: Too many memories and 20/20 hindsight, geez,, hee hee hee.

 

[turkeybird56]

OK, gotta go feed hossie, laters.

 

[Texas021]

Them TBI's sit, they can be finicky. But Stoffregen gave U good advice. ESPECIALLY on replacing all RUBBER: Hoses, fuel lines, vac lines, etc, that stuff all rots when sits. Flush tank, engine and cooling system too, and that is just to start. IT will be a Project but be great when finished, but gonna cost you some $$$$$ for sure.

Tires too, sitting they dry rot.

Thank you i figure since i can keep it at the shop, and work on it take my time and do it right. Plus i have access to a few smart mechanic minded buddies.

 

[Texas021]

Thank yall for the advice, i knew this project may run up a bill, but it would be worth it.

Kinda wanna get the engine running on its own fuel do it cheaply, then see what needs attention because if i gotta do a trans, etc. Gonna probably start saving for a swap. It ran good when i parked it. But that setup had no power for anything with a max of 12mpg. I remember those days well.

 

[Texas021]

I'm with you. I used to be all about EFI, but my daily driver now is a '77 Jeep Cherokee, with a 360 and a carburetor. I love the simplicity and I know if it breaks, I can still limp home.

Even though im more towards efi, i understand computers a lot more, but they are far from simple, but they can get you home unless it deams critical. I miss those days where an engine needed 3 wires to run *my 12 valve cummins could but it wasn't the manual so it wouldn't drive.*

 

[turkeybird56]

Thank you i figure since i can keep it at the shop, and work on it take my time and do it right. Plus i have access to a few smart mechanic minded buddies.

Always help to have a few friends that may have some knowledge to assist. Maybe a few beers and they turn some wrenches, LOL. Just not TOO many beers.

 

[Stoffregen Motors]

There's not a lot of money involved with this fuel system. The most expensive part is the pump, but that's only about $50. Then there's a three way filter and about five feet of hose. If there is bad gas in the tank, dump it out and have a look inside the tank. If it isn't full of junk, just flush it by sloshing new fuel around and then dump that out. If you want to try running the TBI without taking it apart first, run some STP injector cleaner in with the new fuel.

You don't need to go all in to get it running, but if you want a reliable and safe driver, that's another story.

 

[Texas021]

Thank you im hoping the pickup tube in the tank is good. But i could have sowre i saw where parts are expensive for this model.

But will have it reliable just need to see whqt all needs attention. Dont wanna throw nice parts if seals dont come back around.

I gotta find a dipstick for it though. If i remember right barely touching is recommended capacity. *me and dad didn't know this. But it did get some new parts while in service i thinks head gaskets for a big item but im going off my teen memory which im surprised is recalling all tlhe little details.

 

[u2slow]

I have 3 of the TBI trucks. Except for the one I wrecked out, they have been pretty simple.
- $20 fuel pump
- $20 hall effect sensor
- forget what the idle solenoid cost but it wasn't much.

I've spent more time and money on alternator, water pumps, deleting buggered smog pumps, and capping off the associated lines.