I'll give that a shot tonight I ran to Napa and grabbed plugs and fuel filter and man did it wake that thing up feel kinda dumb not changing it sooner I just got excited to not sound like an airplane
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If a new in-line filter made such a remarkable improvement, I would stay on the fuel system. The plugs shown above don't really look all that bad - I'll bet it was the filter that helped restore your performance. I am guessing you have a Q-jet.
What you describe below is a textbook symptom of a fouled filter.
When I picked up the truck it would drive about 20 min or so and then start to lose power bog down so put it in neutral would go back to normal but once you'd start going again would do the same thing and eventually just die. Couldn't boost it had to let it charge on side of road for 45 min just to move another 15 min and start the process over again.
One typical example of a restricted fuel filter is a vehicle that cuts out or loses power driving up an incline, such as a bridge. Under load, fuel demand increases and a clogged fuel filter reduces the needed flow. As the fuel filter gets dirty, the fuel pump works much harder. This is why a restricted filter can damage a fuel pump.
A misfire at idle or a vehicle that is hard to start is NOT normally a symptom of a bad fuel filter. Fuel requirements at an idle or startup are low. Even a badly restricted filter can supply adequate fuel under low load conditions. As the need for fuel flow increases, the restricted filter will reveal itself. This is why we notice bad fuel filters on acceleration and when climbing an incline.
The
fuel volume test is very handy in determining fuel filter restriction. Pressure will drop when we start the volume flow test. Restricted fuel filters may show adequate pressure with a lack of flow. Reduced fuel volume will cause the fuel pressure to fall under high demand.
Check the carburetor's internal filter - it is small compared to an in-line filter and the media is very fine so it can easily become restrictive to fuel flow.
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Release the supply tubing (be sure to hold the brass adapter/filter cap steady with a 1" wrench to prevent the tubing from getting twisted). When you have the inlet tubing released, just back the brass transition fitting out and check the filter. These trucks didn't come equipped with in-line filters so the internal one could very well be plugged or missing. A missing internal filter might seem like a good way to increase fuel flow, but the lack of one will eventually bite you in the ass. From a man who knows a lot about Q-jets:
Missing Fuel Filter:
Results in: Lack of a fuel filter will allow dirt and debris to get into the carb. This often unseats the needle, resulting in severe carb flooding. I have also seen this cause severe sediment build-up in the float bowl, with eventual plugging of metering orifices, resulting in poor idle and other performance problems such as jammed power piston.
Comments: A lot of Q-Jets have had their filters removed. People seem to think that the little filter in the carb must be very restrictive to fuel flow, so they toss it and install an in-line filter. Eventually, somebody removes the in-line filter, but never puts the in-carb filter back in. The in-carb filter is actually very good, and does not produce a flow restriction.
Also make sure that the filter spring is present:
Missing Fuel Filter Spring:
Results in: A missing filter spring will allow dirt to completely bypass the filter. results in same problems as a missing fuel filter.
Comments: These springs are commonly lost during filter changes. Many people don’t see a purpose in the spring, so they leave them out. I’ve also heard people say that the spring makes the filter “block off” fuel flow, so they remove it. The spring is essential for proper filter operation.
