88 250 tbi to carb?
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88 250 tbi to carb?
I just got myself a nice 88 250 w/318 tbi plow truck. It has no brakes, no exhaust, (and no oxygen sensors) It starts and idles ok, but when you give it throttle it just dies (it think it runs out of fuel) when you let off, it will idle again. would the best thing be to put a carb on it? if so, do I have to change the intake ? I would also have to change the dist, and get an ignition box? will a carb bolt to this intake? If I could make this thing run half decent it would make a good plow truck...
Thanks for any info.
Thanks for any info.
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From: Goffstown, NH
welcome to the forum!
You will have to change out the intake to bolt on a carb as I believe the TBI units have a different bolt pattern than the carbs and there is no adaptor plate that I know of. You can leave the dizzy in. All the LA motors of the 80 are pretty much the same. If you can find an intake and carb assembaly out of a junk yard off of a 318 or 360, that would fit, or go new if you want to spent the money.
It sounds like you may just have a vacuum leak though. Have you made sure that you have good vacuum, fuel getting to the carb, and the timing it correctly adjusted?
You will have to change out the intake to bolt on a carb as I believe the TBI units have a different bolt pattern than the carbs and there is no adaptor plate that I know of. You can leave the dizzy in. All the LA motors of the 80 are pretty much the same. If you can find an intake and carb assembaly out of a junk yard off of a 318 or 360, that would fit, or go new if you want to spent the money.
It sounds like you may just have a vacuum leak though. Have you made sure that you have good vacuum, fuel getting to the carb, and the timing it correctly adjusted?
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Thanks for the reply!
I would love to get it running decent just the way it is, but I was worried that it wouldn't run right without o2 sensors. I also forgot to mention the egr is blocked off. ( there is a plate between it and the manifold). I was looking directly down the tbi, and when you give it throttle, the gas spray stops right after the throttle is opened, and the engine just stops until you let off the throttle. Then it will idle again.
Will this engine run ok without the egr and o2 sensors? Do you think it might be the tps? Thanks again
I would love to get it running decent just the way it is, but I was worried that it wouldn't run right without o2 sensors. I also forgot to mention the egr is blocked off. ( there is a plate between it and the manifold). I was looking directly down the tbi, and when you give it throttle, the gas spray stops right after the throttle is opened, and the engine just stops until you let off the throttle. Then it will idle again.
Will this engine run ok without the egr and o2 sensors? Do you think it might be the tps? Thanks again
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Joined: Apr 2008
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From: Goffstown, NH
It could be the TPS. I'm not sure how it will run without the erg hooked up. Not all TBI motors run O2 sensors. Heather's brother had a 90 chevy 1500 sport with a 350 TBI setup from the factory and that had no o2 sensors.
If you have the connectors for them, then install them. If not, don't worry about it. as far ast the EGR goes, that just lets the unburned gas from teh exhuast and the vapor collected from the gas tank to be used when the motor is first started up so that it can have a little easier time running in the cold when it is cold.
Try swapping on another TBI unit and see what that does. Have you replaced any fuel filters? if not, they may be clogged, letting only enough gas to pass through to keep the motor running at idle. Also inspect your fuel line to make sure that they are not pinched or leaking.
If you have the connectors for them, then install them. If not, don't worry about it. as far ast the EGR goes, that just lets the unburned gas from teh exhuast and the vapor collected from the gas tank to be used when the motor is first started up so that it can have a little easier time running in the cold when it is cold.
Try swapping on another TBI unit and see what that does. Have you replaced any fuel filters? if not, they may be clogged, letting only enough gas to pass through to keep the motor running at idle. Also inspect your fuel line to make sure that they are not pinched or leaking.
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Well, here goes, I replaced all fuel lines back to the tank. Started the truck it was running half decent. I thought "great", next thing I know fire is coming out from under the hood. I have a fire extinguisher in one of my vehicles, but by the time I got it out, the dist wires, wiring harness and everything else is crispy. Alot of the wires are burnt right off. I really do appreciate you guys help, because I think you helped me solve the problem. It just wasnt long lived... I think when I changed the lines I must have spilled a little gas on the manifold and it caught. Oh well, the plow and everything that goes with the plow didnt get hurt, so at least I can put it on another truck. For what I gave for the whole deal, the plow is worth what I gave, just sucks because we have another storm coming wed night. Thanks again!
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Joined: Apr 2008
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From: Goffstown, NH
Man that sucks. There shouldn't have been that many wires or hoses under there, but I could be wrong.
You should be able to find another wiring harness for cheap for that truck though. Or now would be a good time to install an intake and carb. A lot less wires to deal with. If you have an electric fuel pump though, you'll have to install a fuel pressure regulator.
You should be able to find another wiring harness for cheap for that truck though. Or now would be a good time to install an intake and carb. A lot less wires to deal with. If you have an electric fuel pump though, you'll have to install a fuel pressure regulator.
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I think what Im gonna do at this point is go out this morning and see if it will still turn over by the key, look at the damage in the light and make and try to make a rational decision. It had just happened when I posted last night. I think I will probably set it out back and pick away at it this summer.
There is a small box on the passenger side valve cover that has like 3 (or maybe more) what looks like spark plug wires coming out of it. anybody know what that does? it got hit pretty hard.
My brother builds race engines, and he said what you guys are are saying, put a carb on it. I just dont want to put alot of money in something I dont know will last that long, because as it is, even if I do get it running again, it needs a front drive shaft at minimum.
There is a small box on the passenger side valve cover that has like 3 (or maybe more) what looks like spark plug wires coming out of it. anybody know what that does? it got hit pretty hard.
My brother builds race engines, and he said what you guys are are saying, put a carb on it. I just dont want to put alot of money in something I dont know will last that long, because as it is, even if I do get it running again, it needs a front drive shaft at minimum.
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Joined: Apr 2008
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From: Goffstown, NH
Since its a plow truck/yard truck only, It shouldn't cost you that much. Like I said before, check out local scrap yard/junk yards for old LA small blocks that are carb. and grab the intake and carb.
If I still had the old intake from my 78 D200 I would tell you to come down and grab it from me (i'm kicking myself now). I know up here in the northeast there is little to nothing. Look on craigslist throught NE and check out the local forums (NEOW.org/forum is one that I am on). you may get lucky.
As for that box, I'm not sure what it is off the top of my head. If you can get a picture of it, that may help out.
If I still had the old intake from my 78 D200 I would tell you to come down and grab it from me (i'm kicking myself now). I know up here in the northeast there is little to nothing. Look on craigslist throught NE and check out the local forums (NEOW.org/forum is one that I am on). you may get lucky.
As for that box, I'm not sure what it is off the top of my head. If you can get a picture of it, that may help out.
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"1987 Dodge 4x4, 3/4 ton. E.F.I 318 4 spd with 8'Fisher plow. Good yard plow.
Needs right front axle. Runs great.$500. Firm"
Would my front axle be the same? I figure the one I have needs a front drive shaft as it is and all the other things I need to do to it, I could use the one I have for a parts truck. I just talked to the guy and this one has brakes, exhaust and runs good. I would have parts for the plow as well. What do you think?
Needs right front axle. Runs great.$500. Firm"
Would my front axle be the same? I figure the one I have needs a front drive shaft as it is and all the other things I need to do to it, I could use the one I have for a parts truck. I just talked to the guy and this one has brakes, exhaust and runs good. I would have parts for the plow as well. What do you think?
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well the one I have is an auto, and this one is standard, think the axles will still be the same? Think the gears will be the same as well? I know plowing is hard on the front end, and it would be great to have a spare...
Last edited by bennersaw; Feb 18, 2009 at 05:42 PM.
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From: Goffstown, NH
The axles will still be the same. The axles will be strong enough for plowing as long as your not running a 9'+ plow on the front end. The t-cases will probably (95% sure) be the same as well, you just won't be able to swap them because the input shaft spline counts will differ. You can always swap the shafts though.
The only other thing that may be different are the driveshaft lengths as you are going from an auto to manual, but they should be close enough to work out for you. a rebuilt driveshaft is not that much either, under $100 just about everywhere. Everything else between the two trucks will be the same though.
You can always swap in your tranny and case into this other one, you'll just have to install the flex plate in place of the flywheel.
The only other thing that may be different are the driveshaft lengths as you are going from an auto to manual, but they should be close enough to work out for you. a rebuilt driveshaft is not that much either, under $100 just about everywhere. Everything else between the two trucks will be the same though.
You can always swap in your tranny and case into this other one, you'll just have to install the flex plate in place of the flywheel.
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