Unplug your oxygen sensor and see if it helps.  Also you can trick the
computer into thinking that the tempII sensor is good by unplugging it
and using a short piece of wire to bridge the two prongs that are inside
the plug to each other.  If you do this then the computer will think
that the van is warmed up and it will run well without the sensor.  You
may have to hold your foot on the gas when the van is cold until it
warms up but after that it will run fine.  If it runs better when you
unplug the oxygen sensor then that is bad.  Or if it runs better after
you bypass the Temp II sensor (blue plug on thermostat housing) then the
TempII sensor is bad.  Darrell Boehler gave me the TempII trick and it
worked like a charm for me.  As always we have oxygen sensors and tempII
sensors in stock if you need them.

Hope this helps,
Ken Wilford
John 3:16
www.vanagain.com

Jim Felder wrote:

> I know this problem has been discussed recently on this list, and as I
> remember it has to do with one of the temp sensors.
>
> I just installed new head gaskets. So far no leaks, started right up,
> system bled and the loud clatter from the lifters has gone away. But I
> can't drive the car (very far) because through it runs sweet on
> startup, it starts emitting dark exhuast, runs rough, and soon the RPMs
> slow to a stall. I can pull the throttle to keep it running as long as
> I want, but if I don't keep the revs above 2000 or so it chugs to a
> stop.
>
> Turning the key "resets" it to run fine for a minute or two, then the
> symptoms return. It doesn't matter where the engine is in the temp
> range, it seems time-related.
>
> Any help will be appreciated, of course.
>
> Jim
>