So now that I've dropped about $1,400 to $1,500 in parts and have spent countless hours either doing something major or just little things here and there, earlier today I finally got to take my 87 Dodge Raider for a good long drive. About 85 miles actually, doing both highway and stop and go driving, and figured my miles per gallon to be 13.8.

And it was pretty uneventful, except for now if I let it idle too long, then it'll sputter and die out and it has a hard time starting now. Just think I need to tune the carb and the timing and then it'll be good to go.

I haven't ran it through emissions yet, so I'm just running around on a temp tag for the next couple days. Once I get the carb and timing done though, only thing to do will be to fight it out at the DMV to get it emissioned, inspected, and registered.

I'm so happy for you. Your perseverance paid off and I bet that is a very rewarding feeling for you. Good job bro.

Good looking 87 there. I hope the idle is an easy fix for you so you can get to enjoying it.

I found my timing light if you're in central Phoenix and want to drop over to set yours.

John B.

PRO TIP: On your way to emissions testing, stop by Walgreens. Pick up (2) pints of rubbing alcohol - the high-test stuff. Stop at a gas station, pour the alcohol into the tank, top off with fuel. Put a few miles on the truck between the fuel stop and test station. You should be good to go.

This is the *ONLY* way I've ever managed to get my 89 to pass the sniffer. By law, I guess they can't change the limits they're testing, but they *can* change the loads they put on the vehicle on the rollers. Man, they just beat the [censored] out of these things on the rollers. Wouldn't be surprised to see them redline through 3rd - and I never go beyond 4k.

Congrats on the milestone. We'll see you on the trails.

Well, i didn't pass or fail, and i knew about and did the rubbing alcohol. I actually got rejected for not having enough power towards the end of the emissions test. So tomorrow I'm gonna get a 30 day tag, and then I'll need some help from a couple of you here in the Phoenix area. I've got Johnny B's number and PA_JERO's number, so you guys can expect a phone call here in the next couple days so we can meet up. I'm comfortable with driving it any where, so I'm not worried about that. I think it's a vacuum issue. Either way, beer and/or food will be involved.

Take it to a different test station. That just don't sound right to me.

Is your Monty an auto or manual?

Wow, Leonard Nemoy died, on the news while typing.

So, a couple weeks ago I took it over to Johnny B's and we messed with it and made it run a little better, but still not 100%. He made a comment after he took it for a spin that it feels like the exhaust is plugged, so I pulled the cat out, which was gutted by the previous owner, and it felt stronger, and was MUCH louder. I didn't drive it too much with the cat off and out of courtesy to my neighbors in the apt complex, I put the cat back on. I made an appointment to get the exhaust done from the cat back for last Friday, but I didn't make it cause it stalled out a mile down the road.

Once I got it started again, out of frustration I searched for a shop and limped it there. I had to keep my foot in the gas at all times to keep the revs up. LOTS of heel-toe shifting/stopping for about 2 miles. According to them, the carb is just dumping fuel and flooding the cylinders, and they also found that my fuel pump (which is new from AutoZone)is either weak or I have an air leak in the supply lines somewhere.

So, before I rule out the carb, I guess I'll be checking vacuum line routing and vacuuum actuators and searching for a leak in my fuel lines.

Oh the fun and excitement of dealing with a 25+ year old vehicle.

Oh no, I hope you get that stuff sorted out. If it's still bucking, I still want a ride. Just kidding.