Hard to start Van starts but obviously runs poorly

It sounds like the timing chain has gone out, but I can tell for sure if you upload a short video of the engine cranking over or we can do a compression test to help confirm the problem.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-engine-compression

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-cranks-excessively-before-starting

Let us know what happens and please upload pictures or videos of the problem.

Hi Ken,

Thank you for the reply. I'll be sure to do the compression test and see about vids to upload... hope to go at it this weekend. thanks again.

forgot to mention that when the van stalls and i attempt to re-start it immediately, I get a puff of white smoke in the throat of the carburetor (filter/cover removed) that fills up the van... if i wait until it all clears out of the carb, the van starts again.
i have fuel/pressure, i have spark, and the van runs great with power once i get it started.

You may have a needle and seat that has something stuck in it causing the engine to flood, use a flashlight and after you shut off the engine look down the carb to see if there is gas pouring into the engine.

Hi Ken,

Made two videos, first while the engine ran perfectly. As i mentioned, there is a little difficulty to start when the engine is cold usually.
Then I shut it off and tried to restart, could not restart it. frustrating!
Looking down at the throat of the carburetor and yes wet.
Any write up on servicing the carb? I have tools and half a brain!

2 videos attached.

Yep, it seems like the gas filter is plugged or the fuel pump is weak, but you said you replaced that correct? Have we run the codes yet? This guide can help us:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/retrieve-trouble-codes-for-chrysler-dodge-plymouth-odb1-1995-and-earlier-car-mini-van-and-light-trucks

The engine sounds okay when you are cranking it so I think the timing chain is okay. I feel like it could be the engine coolant temperature sensor shorting out, try to unplug it to see if the engine acts differently. Here is the location in the diagrams below. Please let us know what you find.

Hi Ken,

Yes, replaced both the in-tank fuel pump assembly and the external in-line fuel filter... both of premium quality. This was a mistake, I assumed was the problem, but it wasn't.
Also, earlier on I installed brand new water pump, hoses and the two sensors temp/gauge because the temperature reading on my instrument cluster was always way below the quarter mark. The gauge still doesn't reach the middle, but I learned to live with it.
Do you still think it's a fuel flow issue? It runs great when it starts in the morning, and it always starts in the morning.

I was thinking and I have seen the engine coolant temperature sensor cause this issue, did you unplug the sensor and see if the problem changes? I would install a new sensor. You could have gotten a bad sensor.

Thank you, Ken, I'll try that.
Will the van start with the wire to the sensor unplugged?
You make sense because the difficulty is at the second start when the engine is warm... I'll give that a try tomorrow and report back.
Again thank you Ken.

So I decided to give it a try tonight... unplugged both temp sensors, van started fairly quickly. Drove few miles picked up some beer, left the van running in fear of a no start. Drove home... this was about 20 minutes RT the van ran perfectly. When I got home, turned it off and it would not start again. Puffed a cloud of white smoke from the carb as usual.
Tomorrow morning I'm sure it'll start again. The sensors are still unplugged.
I'm assuming the one you thought shorted is the one with the 2 wires, correct?
What's next?

Could it be the coil? It gave a good reading at the high/low posts but I noticed it gets very hot to the touch. It's been a while since I worked on older cars and don't recall if old fashioned coils get this hot.
Really strange that I only have a problem restarting the van when the engine is hot. Fires right up in the morning and stays running strong until I turn it off... then no start and a puff of white smoke.

Yes, a shorted coil can heat up and cause this issue. I would replace it with a new unit. Please let me know what happens.

Going to go grab one from AutoZone. They show that they have them.
Thank you again Ken.

Happy news Ken. I picked up the coil from AutoZone $19.00 earlier, plugged it in and now the van starts every time! I turned it off numerous times and it fired right up. I hope that's all it was! Will give it a few day and report back. I can't thank you enough Ken for walking me through it.

That is good news, always glad when we can help someone get back on the road and on with their life. Use 2CarPros anytime, we are here to help. Please tell a friend.

Hi Ken,

As promised, I wanted to give an update on the van. I've been driving it around town the last few days and it has been solid, starts, runs and feels great. The only thing is that I may have advanced the timing slightly a bit during diags.. I thought I marked it and put it back to where it was but it may have been off. Is there a good how-to do the timing accurately on it? I do have a timing gun but can't find any markings on the pulleys... and I looked for it from every angle.
Thank you again for helping me fix my van! I am a happy camper! I plan to drive it down to North Carolina this weekend.

Sure, here are the instructions and timing plate in the diagrams below.