The Emissions Test

[Nathan in MI]

Duraspark box failing, maybe?

[torquelover]

I know how you feel. My P72 blew the rear end, all over the road. Then after I air-chiseled the deformed trac-lock out and put in some new parts, the trans had a major failure a few days later. The car has been resurrected after being parked from sometime in '98 until '03, is parked yet again until I can get it to pass emissions. The car is catless, air-pumpless, has a tired 351, and all aftermarket, emissions illegal parts. I have a huge hill to climb, and your post makes me want to throw in the towel. BUT, I haven't called it quits yet, and am glad you and your Dad are still trying.

[Lincolnmania]

might i suggest efi?

[torquelover]

might i suggest efi?

+1. If I can't tune my car good enough to pass the emissions check, all the 4-barrel stuff is gone, and in goes EFI.

[P72Ford]

Duraspark box failing, maybe?

Its possible, but that wasn't the major problem. The pick up was indeed bad, as the car fired right up after we swapped the distributors. It ran, but the timing needed adjustment. We didn't bother with the timing though, seeing as the alternator wasn't charging. I haven't picked up my alternator yet, so I couldn't put that on, so it didn't make sense to fiddle with the car any more last night (because I couldn't drive it today anyway). I'll toss the alternator on tonight, possibly set the timing (at least get it where it sounds right), and then drive the car tomorrow.

I'm curious as to why the tach is inoperable. The light works, so it is grounded. When I switch the ignition on, it goes back to 0, so the 12V source is present. The signal wire was undisturbed, so I'm not sure what is wrong.

Anyways, it was a PITA. I'll get the new distributor tonight, but I'm not going to put it in. I have school stuff which will be more of a priority right now.

This was a bummer to me, because it was the first time the car left me indefinitely stranded. But, it isn't that serious, right? I can fix this.

I can get this car to pass emissions right now, and I could probably do it with ease if I did the 4 bbl swap now as well. The 4 bbl will have far more adjustability, in contrast to the VV.

As for my ambition for the 4 bbl swap... its in the crapper right now, so that won't be taking place next week. It probably won't happen until the beginning of the summer, like I planned.

[86GmLsCoupe]

Don't give up on it yet, it's a pain in the ass until you finally get it fixed and then feel so much better. I'm completely unfamiliar with the 351 and what kind of code scanning is available but I thought it had a scanner port? Since you said EGR valve and passages were pretty clean, then that shouldn't be the problem. I'm starting to think your EGR vacuum solenoid is bad, just or a cracked vac line somewhere.

[P72Ford]

That solenoid is a possibility. Here's the thing. If I open the valve manually with the engine at idle, it dies. Thats is what is supposed to happen from what I've read.

Also, when I rev the engine up, I can see the valve move. However, the motion isn't all that drastic. I'm not sure thats right or not. I'm going to inspect the vacuum lines for that solenoid, looking for damage. The funny thing is, after a quick inspection, it doesn't appear as though the vac lines on the soleniod go anywhere near the EGR. They go to the driver's front fender, near the emissions solenoids. Maybe they run to the EGR from there? The EGR gets its vacuum from a temperature operated switch on the front of the manifold, which gets its vacuum from the timed port on the carb.

I'll have to look into all of this. Thanks for the solenoid suggestion though.

[1987cp]

Dunno about on your car, but on the emissions crapola I just pulled from the '81, the EGR valve gets its vacuum signal via the tangle of junk on the p/s fenderwell that's also supposed to control smog pump function.

[P72Ford]

Mine gets vacuum from a port right on one of the temp senders on the pass. side front corner of the intake.


BTW, I got the alternator on tonight, and it is charging. It reads about 14 at idle with lights on. Drops a little with everything else on. There isn't any fluctuating/ pulsating either, so thats good.

[torquelover]

Good news.

[KING BIOHAZERD]

wow i have had my car almost 3 years and have not had to take her in once from what i know they dont even test car of my age this sound like complete bullshit!! i mean when i got my dual exhust put on my muffler guy was asking me if he could ripe out my cat to make it loader!!

[1987cp]

It's funny, seems like Illinois, for all it's a smog-nazi state, actually has somewhat more lenient smog laws than NW Indiana. 1987LTDmasta does still have cats on his car, far as I know ... I forget what the deal was out there in Chi-town with respect to what gets tested and what doesn't.

[Heretic]

Theoretically, here in IL anything older than 1996 is supposed to be exempt. However there are apparently caveats for some vehicles, read and see if it applies to you. http://www.illinois.gov/PressRelease...fm?RecNum=5675

As an IL resident my 85 is now exempt due to the recent test and post 01/2007 expiration, but I think I may get a notice for the 87 as I do not know it's testing history.

[P72Ford]

Ok, I have an update. I was out spinning my wheels this afternoon.

The reman distributor worked out well, and the timing is set. I may adjust it later, but it seems to be running quite well now.

The only hold up was the small vacuum "filter" near the distributor. One of the ports on it is supposed to be open, and I'm not sure which one. MY '88 has one port open, so I left that one open on mine.... but it resulted in a vac. leak. So I plugged that one, and unplugged the other port. No leaks, but I'm not sure if its right, any ideas?

The alternator is working fine. I took some time today to loom some of the udnerhood wiring, and althought there is still an abundance of "spaghetti", it is visually more appealing with black wire loom.

I will be heading off for an emissions test tomorrow if I can. I'm going to add a little more methanol, and use my regular tricks.

[1987cp]

Theoretically, here in IL anything older than 1996 is supposed to be exempt. However there are apparently caveats for some vehicles, read and see if it applies to you. http://www.illinois.gov/PressRelease...fm?RecNum=5675

As an IL resident my 85 is now exempt due to the recent test and post 01/2007 expiration, but I think I may get a notice for the 87 as I do not know it's testing history.

Okay, that link jogs my memory. My conclusion from that page is that if you move to Illinois from a non-emissions-testing state such as Michigan and want to register your car, you have to pass an initial emissions inspection. I was looking at Illinois.gov a while back when I was applying for a job at Argonne National Labs in Batavia and biting my nails over the prospect of trying to get a non-catted, carb'd, formerly-SEFI car to pass an inital emissions test.