I'm new here and wanted to say I probably wouldn't have bought my Zuk if it weren't for all the great info I have found here.

Thank you to all,

Ok, here we go I picked up a 1988.5 JX 94,000 for $2000 all stock Texas truck no rust. It had been setting for the last 4 years so I know would have some bad gas and crap I would have to work thru. for the first 2 - 3 tanks of gas It wouldn't stay running at low idle all the time. sometimes it would purr at 1000 rpms other times it would drop down to 400-500 rpms and die. i replaced wires, plugs and air filter for good measure but it really felt like it was the fuel. after the 3 - 4 tank of gas it came out of it. last weekend I replaced the PCV Valve and fueled at a station I don't usually go to. When I went test drive after replacing the PCV it wouldn't idle again just like when I first picked it up.

I am wondering what the PCV valve could have caused to happen? or have I just sucked some more crap in from the tank?

I checked all the Vacuum lines and I don't think i knocked any off.

On a side note I'm going thru a bunch of oil about 1 quart per fill up. It's not leaking on the ground and it is not smoking so i don't think I'm burning it. It looks like there is a lot of oil on the top of the transmission so I ordered new distributor o-rings, valve cover, oil pan, and rear main gaskets but have not received them yet.

I have also ordered a new Weber carb, fuel reg, and fuel filter that should be in this weekend.

Ok, so the question is should I put my new parts on and forget about it if it doesn't happen again or is there something deeper?     

Thanks for the help in advance,

Mike

I can't think of why the PCV valve would cause that to happen.  I wouldn't worry about it unless it happens again.

Mine had been sitting for a long time when I got it too, and I was having the same issues.  Ended up having to drop the fuel tank and clean it out to get all the crud out.

While you have the tank out, its a good time to blow out all of your fuel lines with air.  Start at the fuel pump and blow them all out back towards the tank.

After you do all of this, if its still doing the same thing you have pretty much narrowed your problem down to the carb.  Its likely if your fuel was that dirty you have sucked crud into the carb.  Follow the fuel line from the fuel pump to the carb, and you will find a small nipple where the fuel line attaches to the carb.  Remove that nipple and check for any obstructions there.  Mine was packed solid with crap.  Or just throw that Weber on.  But I would def pull that tank and clean it out....you dont want to be sucking dirty gas into a new carb.

As for the oil leak, sounds like you are on the right track there.

Good luck man!  These little trucks are fun as hell.

Sweet, the truck has lived it life in sand and dry south Texas so I was thinking I may need to drain and drop the tank or put in a second extra larger fuel filter to catch most of the crap (sand). 

new question, mine is a 5 speed with cruse control that works! the cruse looks very aftermarket. was cruse an option on the manuals? 

thanks,

if you start blowing air through the lines don't forget to take out the check valve back by the fuel filter.