Just acquired a high school street bruiser from the early nineties.

[Rafterman]

Through a chain of events I was able to buy an '88 Silverado stepside. This truck was first bought by my uncle in '91. He'd pick my brother and I up and we would go cruisin... occasionally street racing here in Laredo and across the border into Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. Good times indeed.

Anyway, before I bought it, one of my three brothers bought it from my uncle, after the truck was recovered after having been stolen and was just sitting in his driveway for several years.

My brother in his infinite wisdom as a diesel mechanic decided to sell the tbi motor and install a slightly modified 350 with carb.

So after sitting on the truck for about five years and not being able to get it to run, he gave up and I bought it.

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[Jrgunn5150]

Cool, at least you got to grab it up! What are your plans?

 

[Justin S]

He put a diesel 350 in? Like out of an Oldsmobile?

 

[slowburb]

He put a diesel 350 in? Like out of an Oldsmobile?

Right?! That's what I was thinking.

 

[Jrgunn5150]

I read that as, he is a diesel mechanic, and he installed a Carb'd 350 lol. Like, one not really having much to do with the other.

And diesel don't have carb's lol.

 

[1ATony]

I like those old step sides. A buddy of mine had a red one it was really nice

 

[twomanymontes]

Welcome Aboard!! More pics please!!

 

[Rafterman]

I read that as, he is a diesel mechanic, and he installed a Carb'd 350 lol. Like, one not really having much to do with the other.

And diesel don't have carb's lol.

Correct, my brother is a diesel mechanic.... he pulled the TBI motor and replaced it with a carbed motor.

 

[Bob L]

Took a while to get that cleared up. So what is going on with the truck now? What are your future plans? I like your title but most high school street bruiser I remember or owned didn't survive much past high school.

 

[Rafterman]

Issues:

Was able to get truck running for two or three days. I left for three weeks for some training, when I got back had issues getting her going again.

Initially the starter would stay engaged after he engine would start. Guy at Autozone (a mechanic by trade) told me to replace an ignition switch of some kind that goes at the bottom of the steering column. Truck was good for a few days then wouldn't start again. This time the starter started smoking. I know I checked the motor grounds to frame/ firewall/ radiator support, all good metal on metal.

The wiring harness was missing several wires from the unused sensors, cut at the computer (not very smart). I believe that there might be wires that should of been grounded from the unused sensors.

Is there a way to run the truck without any of the computer and harness??

I don't want a/c and am going to replace the gauges anyway.

Currently using the in tank pump. Is it possible to wire the pump without the computer??

Has new battery
New starter
New distributor
New intake
New carb

Your knowledge is greatly appreciated.