Hi all, new here. Just wanted to say hello

[Skunksmash]

Hello all. I just wanted to introduce myself, and ask a question. I just got a new (well, new to me) truck to toy with. I got it cause i have just always liked the body style, i wanted something to mess with, and the interior was in particularly good shape for it's age. And i have owned a couple others in the past, though they were no where near as nice. It is an 87 Chevy Silverado Long bed. I love long beds. It has a 5.7 liter 350 engine and an automatic transmission with overdrive. I seem to be having a little trouble with it though. It has a slightly rough idle, and sometimes dies as i come to a stop. It seems to get poor gas mileage (even for an 87 350) and sometimes i can smell a foul odor, like that fuel smell that you smell when something is wrong.

I do not know very much about throttle body injection, im afraid. Anyone know what could be causing this? It is not the air filter, i took that off and it runs the same. I will be replacing all the sensors that i can find soon. But if any of you are familiar with Throttle body injection, you know that when they get old the plastic connectors at the very top of the throttle body are often burned. Do you think i just need to go ahead and bite the bullet and buy a whole new throttle body? The only one i have found so far is from JC whitney, and it is $259-$359. I do not mind spending money on the truck and i realize that being as old as it is it will need some money dumped on it to bring it back up to par. But, just like the next guy, i would like to save money if i can. Especially these days lol. Any suggestions? Thoughts? I am sure this is a common problem as i have had 1 other 87 and it did the same thing only way worse. It was a shortbed which i did not really like, and was over run with problems and had a salvage title. So i got rid of it lol. I went without one of these nice machines for to long, and now i am very glad to have another.

[autorepr]

Hello and welcome from Dayton Ohio!

It sounds like maybe you should have someone local look at it. It could easily be something that could be fixed by a professional for maybe $150. That's quite a bit less than the money your talking about for a single part shot in the
dark. Maybe do the basics yourself (plugs, wires, cap and rotor, PCV valve, repair vacuum leaks, filters) then if that doesn't fix it take somewhere, and I don't mean the counter guy at Autozone. Atleast get the diagnosis, maybe you could take it from there.

Just my advice, have fun with the old girl.

[Captkaos]

You can rebuild the TBI yourself, it is very simple as there isn't much to it.
Are you getting any codes on it?  What is the mileage on the odometer?  When you say it is getting poor mileage, what is poor?
Do you have a laptop?  Can you put together a diagnostic setup together and scan it? 
For the software to scan: http://winaldl.joby.se/
For instruction on how to build a cable: http://winaldl.joby.se/aldlcable.htm

[Skunksmash]

Yes i have a laptop, as well as a code scanner. The check engine light is not on, but i have never had an 87 year model before so i am afraid i do not know if it ever does come on. I hooked up my code reader (an Auto Xray Easyscan 5000) and it said "No trouble codes." I am pretty mechanically inclined, so I am sure i could undertake a throttle body rebuild. With me coming back and asking questions from time to time of course. As for the gas milesage, this is a rough guess but i would guess anywhere from 8-12. I was under the impression that they were supposed to get 15-18mpg. Also, do you happen to know where i can get the rebuild kit? I think it is best to do that anyway. Kinda want to start fresh, you know. As for the odometer, it reads 44,745. I think it is safe to assume that means 144,745. Either that or 244,745. But given the shape of the interior and the overall shape of the truck itself, i would guess 144K.

UPDATE: Well, i changed the fuel filter and te spark plugs, so we can now rule those out too. The good news it, it seems the valve seals and piston rings are ok because none of the spark plugs had oil anywhere on them. There was a little bit of a black greasy substance, but it was very greasy and very sticky so i dont think it was oil. Some mechanics are known to put a little grease on spark plugs when putting new ones in. I know i should have changed the plug wires and cap and rotor and O2 sensors as well, but that will have to wait for payday i am afriad. It looks to me like the catalytic converter is the original, along with the muffler. I guess i should also change those out as well.

[Skunksmash]

Guess i am just going to eat the cost and buy an entirely new Throttle body injection unit. Screw it, then i will know for sure that at least that unit is not the problem. Need to do it anyway so i know. Its a good feeling when you know.

[Captkaos]

You can get all the parts to rebuild the TBI at Advanced, AutoZone, O'Rielleys, Napa etc.
I would verify the mileage on the truck instead of just guessing, but my 87 with a 305 is getting 17mpg in the city, 22.5 on the highway.
I have pictures of where I rebuilt my TBI, I will try and get them together and post them in the Tech forum ASAP.  If you have questions, just ask.  BTW, buying a new TBI is going to be over $250 (at least here it was) and you can rebuild it for about $80, assuming you regulator and injectors are ok.

[Skunksmash]

Thanks! I would like to see those pics.