what is involved in removing the lean burn computer on my 1983 pickup. I am converting from an automatic to a stick and at the same time would like to remove the lean burn system and return to the earlier, more reliable, less troublesome system.

It depends if you're in California or not: Do you have a carb with mixture control solenoid?

Either way, you'll need to replace the distributor with one out of an earlier car/truck. You need one with the vacuum and mechanical advances. The Lean burn distributor doesn't have them.

What you should probably do, is get all the stuff you need out of an earlier junkyard car / truck (one with electronic ignition preferably). Grab the distributor, wiring harness, resistor block & ignition module. Then reverse the procedure and install all of the above into your truck.

If you have a carb with the mixture control solenoid (mostly used in Cali.) you'll need a different carb. Without the computer to control it, these carbs can't set the mixture correctly... (The jetting is controlled by the computer via the solenoid; and, I think they default to REALLY rich)

It goes without saying, if you live in an area (like Cali.) that requires emissions checks, you may run afoul of the requirements by doing this conversion.

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My truck is a Frankenstein creation
Built from the dead carcasses of others
And brought BACK TO LIFE!

If you must pass emissions you can go the MSD route, they are 50-state legal. You would need the MSD ignition box, a new coil, non-solid core plug wires, and the standard electronic dist w/ vacuum and mechanical advance. The downside is total cost will come in around $350. One wire (ignition power) hooks up to the MSD from your original wiring, the rest come from the MSD (batt + and -, coil + and -, and magnetic pickup wires) Simple install, and you will likely reap the benefits of easier starting, better idle quality, and possibly better mpg. My .02

-S/6

Is your current lean burn setup giving you problems, or are you just going with the popular move?

I would have to say I would be against changing out the leanburn if there is nothing wrong with it. The general populus seems to think that lean burn is complete junk and unreliable. My 83 pickup still has the original leanburn computer in it and yes it is still hooked up and working (correctly I might add). If getting 20 years out of it with no problems is unreliable, then someone want to tell me what is reliable then?

If it works fine, and you are leaving it mostly stock engine-wise, then why waste your time and money?

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"That thing gotta HEMI in it??"