Tune Up

[chesterdude87]

I just bought an 82 s10 2.8. It was 400 bucks and the last guy did not take care of the thing too well. Lots of stuff's broken it didn't run right, i had to reattach the muffler (broke at a weld on the way home). It runs alright, no knocks, clicks or ticks.

I was wondering what i would need to do to make sure nothing's about to go wrong with it. What is likely to need to be tuned up? I've heard i should replace the fuel filter to get more power out of it. I've read how to do this, i just cannot locate the fuel filter.

I've checked the engine, reconnected a LOT of vaccum hoses, (hopefully in the right place) this improved performance quite a bit. I'm pretty sure the cat is gone on the thing and the exhaust sounds like a$$ because of that.

I've checked the brakes, brakepads, brake fluid, changed the oil, the air filter, the tires are surprisingly full of tread, even sanded/primed the rust.

Is there anything i'm missing? I feel like it should be a bit more quick off the line.

So,

1. Any necessary maintenance I don't know about?

2. Where's the fuel filter?

3. What can i do about the exhaust?

4. What are some known issues with these trucks?

I'm a novice at working on my own vehicles. Admittedly so I apologize if this isn't the correct place to ask these questions. Thanks.

[Datchevy2.8]

First get you a Haynes or chilton manuel, these will help you out alot for maintenance. The fuel filter is in the carb right where the fuel line goes in, be sure not to round off that nut. The exhaust you might want someone else to work on that part. The vacuum lines, you can find a diagram on this at autozone website.Good luck and search this site! Theirs alot of good info here.

[93v6banger]

I'm not to hip on the carbed trucks but i'll give it a shot. somebody flame me if i tell him something wrong...
tune up your ignition system. new distributor cap and rotor. new spark plugs and wires. this should help out the old motor quite a bit.
these are some of the first basic tune up things you should do (that you havent already done) like i said i don't know much about carbed stuff vs the tbi.
btw, how many miles are on it?

[adamwilkes20]

differential fluid, I would drain and replace with a new gasket....you didnt mention if it was an auto or manual, but check the tranny fluid level and if applicable check the clutch master cylinder and top it off with brake fluid..I would run a bottle of Berrymans B-12 Chemtool through a tank of fuel, check the antifreeze/coolant, if the engine sat for a while I would do a drain/flush/refill

[chesterdude87]

It's an automatic with 106,000. Carbed? Differential Fluid? What are those?

Thanks for the info on the spark plugs. I'm looking for a hanes on ebay. So the fuel filter is INSIDE the carb? Did i read that right?

Thanks for all the replies. Seriously helpful stuff.

[chesterdude87]

oh oh. I'm an idiot. carbed = with carburetor. I thought you meant car-bed. i was like wtf?

[adamwilkes20]

the differential fluid is the GEAR FLUID in the rear end. To drain it you will have to loosen the top bolts of the differential cover, but dont back them out all the way, then place your oil pan under the differential and back the bottom bolts all the way out and let the fluid drain into the oil pan. take the differential cover all the way off the differential and remove the gasket and clean it up with a razor blade to remove all traces of old gasket material. run a thin bead of silicone RTV around the perimeter of the differential cover and around each bolt hole, then place the gasket onto the cover, line it back up onto the differential and replace the bolts. THERE IS a specific tightening pattern to the differential bolts, get a haynes manuel and follow the directions in there. to refill the differential, from the passender side of the truck look on the front top of the differential, there will be a fill plug, grab a 3/8 drive extension and a ratchet and remove that plug and refill with MP 80W90 gear oil till it starts to seep out of the fill hole, replace plug and thats it

[chevymandill]

also you should maby think about replacing the timing chain, if your up to it. for some reason these motors have a tendency to have bad timing chains. it will tell you how to do it in the manual. but when i check the timing chain i grab the harmonic balancer with both hands and turn it back and forth, if you hear the chain slap, or if it moves more then 1/8 in and then grabs then you want to replace it asap

[chesterdude87]

@adamwilkes20. Thanks for the advice. i'll wait till my haynes comes in and i'll use your instructions with the technical specifications from the manual. it doesn't seem much more complicated than replacing a head gasket which i've done a couple of times. I'm curious if this is worth it though, what performance increases might i get from this, what problems will occur if i don't do it?

@chevymandill where would the timing chain be?

Thanks to all who have replied.

[koeberle04]

all the things that were said above are just alot of tune ups really, just to get your truck back to running good and properly. Its pretty easy to do what everyone has said so far. If your looking for performance mods there a lot of things you can do, depending on what kind of results your looking for. i dont know much about carb'd engines really, but theres plenty of things out there to get it moving. Hope i helped a little and good luck

[nti06]

First make a visual inspection of some of the following items....
Then go to O'Reillys and get what you need. Such as..

Wix air filter - #46046 for $9.49
Wix fuel filter- #33052 for $3.29
Wix oil filter - #51036 for $5.69 and which ever oil you choose
"Omni spark" spark plug wires - #9033 for $14.99
ACDelco spark plugs - #R43TS for $2.09(each)x 6= $12.54
Put a bottle of Lucas fuel treatment in it ($5.99).

Maybe give it a Seafoam treatment too.
All that should make it feel like one hell of a peppier truck.

[adamwilkes20]

Quote: Originally Posted by chesterdude87

@adamwilkes20. Thanks for the advice. i'll wait till my haynes comes in and i'll use your instructions with the technical specifications from the manual. it doesn't seem much more complicated than replacing a head gasket which i've done a couple of times. I'm curious if this is worth it though, what performance increases might i get from this, what problems will occur if i don't do it?

@chevymandill where would the timing chain be?

Thanks to all who have replied.

replacing the differential fluid is ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, if the guy you bought the truck off of didnt take care of it real well, my guess is he never or rarely changed the differential fluid. I would change it every 15K miles....it wont coast any more than $15 to do so, which is a hell of a lot cheaper than a new rear end

[chevymandill]

it is behind the water pump

[Rustdaway]

If it is a long box or extended cab grease the Yoke on the driveshaft. There is a grease zert there.

Also lube the front ball joints.

[leprechaun1874]

Quote: Originally Posted by chesterdude87

It's an automatic with 106,000. Carbed? Differential Fluid? What are those?

Thanks for the info on the spark plugs. I'm looking for a hanes on ebay. So the fuel filter is INSIDE the carb? Did i read that right?

Thanks for all the replies. Seriously helpful stuff.

Technically, look on the drivers side rear corner. There is a fuel line with I think 1 1/16" nut and a smaller nut 9/16" not positive on the sizes. Hold the small one and loosen the large one, filter is in there. Has a paper element and spring.

[gixxer32404]

1996 4.3L 5 speed extended cab 2wd supposedly has a 2000 s10 4.3L engine in it.


What all should be done in a tune up?? How much should (key word should) it cost? When I hit accelerator it doesn't seem to kickin like I think a 6 cyclinder should. So I definitely feel it's needed. I had read aboutthe spark plug being pretty well blocked by the steeering column....it definitely appears that way. It looks like a cluster____ under the hood.....everything is in the way.


Does timing need to be?? Distributor points?? not sure?

[gixxer32404]

APX 167000-168000 miles can't remember which.

[93v6banger]

Not being a jerk about it...but you asked in the wrong section. A tuneup can be between 20-100 dollars. It just depends on what you do, and if you can do it yourself.

[gixxer32404]

How it says tune up v6 Forum (2.8/3.4) and I didn't know if 3.4 was a typo for 4.3. I was referring more to taking it to a shop. Sparkplug removal looks like a _____.

[93v6banger]

look right underneath that...it says 262ci forum (4.3)
http://www.s10forum.com/forum/262ci-forum-4-3/

[gixxer32404]

I apologize,I'll put it under 4.3L tune up section.