Reading about how that carb works I'm not surprised it was doing weird stuff. The truck is a "50 state" cali legal model. There's and o2 sensor that monitors the exhaust, if it's too rich it can pull fuel from the carb, that's why it seemed to stick with very little engine braking, then it would snap off and clunk. 1983 computers aren't the best thing out there :lmao:
If you switch to a Weber carb the wiring can be stripped down to a fuel shut off, electric choke, pressure/temp sensors, starter and alternator. Even with the Aisin carb there's a lot of junk that can go. I'll get there eventually.
My 1981 shortbed 4x4 4 speed (later converted to 5spd) was a great truck, but it too started running not so well. Toyota's early emissions stuff is actually very good, AAP, HAC are good stuff, the only thing I didn't like was the air injection pump. If it's all hooked up properly minus the air pump, it runs like a champ with good mieage, power, low emissions, runs practically standing on it's tail or on it's side lol. Yes, I tested all that lol. Headers would be nice with good quiet turbo style muffler will get best power and mileage without the annoying exhaust hum. AAP (auxiliary accelerator pump) really helps acceleration. HAC (high altitude compensation) is an ingenious way of leaning the carburetor mixture at higher altitudes by bleading small amount of air into the throttle body of the carb, no more choking, stuttering, or black smoke in the mountains, engine won't load up and die on steep climbs or off camber sittuations either. Set your carb float at low side of the site glass for best off-roading.
Very common problem is the 'computer' on the driver's kick panel in the cab needs re-soldered. Years of moisture and vibration cause the main plug (to engine wiring harness) through-hole pins in the pcb (printed circuit board) to become cold solder joints. Best thing I did to mine was remove the board (be careful of ESD) flux all solder points on the board (especially the main plug pins!) with non-corrosive flux, solder all joints with good soldering iron and flux core solder. When it's all cooled, scrub it off with dishwashing soap, water and a toothbrush, dry with towel and allow to dry until next day just in case. Reinstall and watch the engine run 1000 times better. HTH and nice Yota! "thumbsup"
BTW 31x10.50x15 is a great size tire for stockish Toyotas, heavy duty actual truck tire that's easy to find and relatively inexpensive, it's what I ran on mine for first year or so.
Sloppy shifter knob is the two shifter lever location pins in tranny tower wearing out slots in shifter pivot ball at bottom of lever. Weld them up and grind straight, square, flat grooves or buy new shift lever. Also replace the nylon pivot ball piece that goes under the ball in the tower.