Thanks for the welcome guys. So I never got an answer, would a junk yard IP probably work fine? As long as it got me 5-10,000 miles I'd be happy with it. I'm a full time college student and don't get much for hours at my job, so it's a bit for me to get both an IP and injectors right now (especially when winter is coming and I need decent tires for it).
Injectors are only $150 new so I can do that, but I can't pay the $300 or so for a new IP right now.
First we are here to help as best we can. We understand the college student and such, trust us lots of us know about tight/tough times you are not explaining a NEW situation to anyone here
With that being said, if you are not getting many hours at your job, and you really, really like the truck, perhaps it's time to find a second and possibly third job or a new one with more hours....that can help pay for both school, truck, dates....not in that order necessarily
I'm not sold on junk yard IP/injectors unless you hear that donor vehicle run for one, and perhaps can see miles etc. Or better a rebuild tag on the passengers side ID plate of the pump. Others may or may not support what I'm saying, but I feel an off the shelf IP from a wrecker is a gamble in time and money you may not want to take in case it's worse than what you have currently.
Ask the diesel class if they have a POP tester...for injectors, and if so, perhaps you can POP test your injectors, checking spray patterns and pressures. Maybe a good idea then to buy some used injectors for the shims, you can then match the ijector pop pressures if the patterns are good. Just a thought, but that could work well for a tight budget!
Guess I'll just run it till she goes, maybe pick up a junk yard IP and see how it does. Like you said Rot Box, for $20 what have I got to lose... other than a day's time.
I understand that ideally I'd want to throw $800 on a top of the line IP and injectors, but really I only drive a couple thousand miles a year, no serious hauling or off roading, and usually go through trucks every few years or so depending on where I'm living and what I need. So, in my situation it makes sense to do it on the cheap.
I am curious why if you only drive a few thousand miles a year and NO serious hauling of freight/gear or off roading, and on a serious budget why not an older honda or toyota or ford/chev mini pickup of simlar year so you don't have large investments in rebuilding a worn fuel system and expensive tyres...
These trucks are not like a honda or ranger or bronco 2 of the same era where some cheap sparkplugs and a carb kit get ya going for ever! Where tyres from walmart cost almost as much for 3 tyres as one of our truck tyres....the flip side, that rebuilt truck fuel system will go for a 100,000 miles if quality parts are invested in, substantially more than said Bronco 2 or a honda etc.
So pay more...last way longer, or pay less and deal with being stranded...your choice..either way we will help any way we can.
Al