Help! 4kcsq aint what she used to be.

[res0geyk]

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Howdy folks

Got a problem!  Surprise surprise. :)

I am experiencing some very sluggish performance from my 86 4kcsq.

The problem is intermittent, but always present, and less intermittent all =
the time.  Occasionally I will drive to the store and it will feel smooth a=
nd peppy most of the way there, but typically it will have a lot of hesitat=
ion most of the way.  When it's really bad, in order to accelerate up a mod=
erately steep hill I need to be at 4000 rpms or floored above 3000 or I wil=
l begin decelerating.

In earlier stages of the problem, it felt like not all of the cylinders wer=
e firing, so I changed the plugs, cap, and rotor (wires are less than a yea=
r old)...  When changing the plugs, I expected to see one looking particula=
rly fouled, but that was not the case.

The air filter has recently been replaced as well, so barring some kind of =
vacuum leak that I would have no idea how to look for, I am assuming at thi=
s point that it is a fuel delivery problem.

injectors?  fuel filter?  fuel pump?  I'm a bit lost here.  Maybe it is som=
e kind of air leak?  I did notice that when I leave for work in the morning=
 its almost always smooth for about the first mile, so it's a bit better wh=
en the engine is still cold.

I tried some fuel system and injector cleaner as a quick-fix last week and =
it seemed like it helped but it may have been the placebo effect as it is j=
ust as bad now.

Due to my currently 'unsatisfactory' financial position, I want to do whate=
ver I can myself but my only automotive experience has been on (much) simpl=
er mercedes benz and volvos built prior to 1970 so I find the task somewhat=
 daunting... Still, how hard can it be, right?

Does anyone have any suggestions on where to start?

Any suggestions very much appreciated!

Carl
Portland, OR

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