Just want to add this...

Though it runs considerably better on cold start and until it's warm when the ***** really hits the fan....it does do a little skip (almost unnoticable) when taking off but seems smooth while driving and accelerating...it actually feels like it's got balls (pardon).

Sometimes, intermittantly, even when the truck is warm and really screwy, I can find that "happy spot" in the pedal and it will drive "almost" as if nothing is wrong with it...stumbling badly one minute and "boom"-takes off the next: let off the pedal, try again, and shazaam. But there are also times when it seems as if it is o.k. and then suddenly will begin to stumble again and no matter how many times I play with the peddle....it's just not happy...big time sad-face...:(

RT has a good suggestion and I am gonna check out what he said...I got a bit side tracked with other crap but his advice is sound and worth checking out.

Just gonna throw this out there for the shits and giggles... could this be a fuel pump or return line issue? I can't see how it could run so much better on cold start if it was but...I'm am truly baffled and I know that I do have problems with the pump assembly. The return pipe on top of the cap broke in half a short while back (someone on this forum said it best..."it's a rase against rust and the trooper is loosing)and my pressure dropped considerably. I removed the broken piece (about half) and just put the hose down further on the line. There are burrs but they are outward bound, not inward (know what I mean?). I am trying to locate a used/good assembly but they are proving harder to come by than I thought.

I don't think it has anything to do with the current problem but every now and then I do get a little puddle of fuel under the truck (maybe the size of a sand dollar). And last weekend when I dropped the fuel tank to check everything out and replace the strainer, I did notice that the top of the tank seemed saturated with fuel. Am I barking up the wrong tree here or could all my current problems be a result of a bad assembly/return line blah-blah, yadda-yadda???

Ya know, I just have to mention that though I've had many problems lately with this truck...though it's old, it's by no means, a rust bucket. It's in really good shape for its age and well worth the time, money, and effor to fix.....If I just knew what the frig I am supposed to be fixing. And I thought math made me feel like a dumb-ass. After all I've done to this thing, I should know what to do from here but I don't....for shame, for shame....

dawn...