I'd just bet that the missing spring is making your truck hard to start once warmed up. Default on the heat riser is that the cast iron counter weight holds the flapper valve in position to push exhaust gasses under the carburetor base. I'd guess that your carb is getting warm enough to boil all the gas out of the float chamber when it sits. Found my spring missing and checked with NAPA to find it "NLA." Carquest didn't list the correct year but they are ordering two in for me to see if they will work next tuesday. I'll keep you posted. ChevyDuty has them but they want $14.95 for them. Seems high to me. eek