Hi, I'm new to the forum. I just got an 85 F150 with a 300 six. I'm trying to identify my carb, but the tag is missing. It looks like it no longer has the feedback carb to me. I want to rebuild it, but I need the number if anyone can help. I may just replace the carb with a new one, so if anyone could tell me what it is that would be great.

Also, I was backing the truck out of my shop, and the trans popped and reverse went out. Forward gears work fine. I checked the pan, and found the truck has an AOD. I also checked the fluid, and it looked good, didn't smell burned, and was full. Is there anything I can do short of rebuilding the trans?

I was also considering the Duraspark II swap since I no longer have the feedback carb installed. I found that Painless makes a harness to convert from points-type to Duraspark II. Would that work on my truck? Painless Performance Products 30812 Painless Ford DuraSpark II Harness

Here are some pics of the truck and the carb:






Thanks in advance for your help! This forum seems very knowledgable from what I've already read. Happy to be a member!

 

Welcome to the Forum. I like the color of your truck.

You are correct, that is not a feedback carb. It looks like your system has been modified to remove emmisions-related and other components. For example the EGR system has been removed. The carb choke hot air tube has been disconnected and crimped shut.

If you still have a computer-controlled ignition system (EEC-IV) then the computer will be blind and confused and will go into fail-safe mode (timing advance locked at 10 degrees BTDC). Performance will suffer. A lot of people will retro-fit to a Dura Spark II computerless ignition system that advances timing based on speed and vacuum.

As for the transmission, a popping sound and loosing Reverse doesn't sound good! But I can't help in diagnosing that.

 

That aftermarket Duraspark wire harness from Painless connects the ignition module, distributor, and coil to the vehicle. Since you have a computer-controlled truck, all of the ignition components that are currently on your truck are for a computer-controlled TFI ignition, so you are going to have to buy the correct parts that work for the Duraspark ignition. This includes an ignition module, coil, and distributor.

The Painless Duraspark ignition harness you speak of will work, but...

You are going to have wire in the oil sending unit and the engine coolant temperature sensor yourself, as it is not part of the aftermarket Painless Duraspark II wire harness.

If you have stock tachometer, you are going to have to get extra wire and wire that in yourself. The stock Ford Duraspark harness from 1980 - 1986 had the wires for both senders included as part of the harness, and the tachometer connection will also be there if the vehicle you get the harness from has a tachometer.

A standard ceramic ballast resistor block is used with the Painless harness, while the stock configuration used a ballast resistor wire, and you already have the resistor wire on your truck.

It would be better (and much simpler) AND cheaper to find a junkyard truck and get the complete one-piece wire harness and the correct ignition components and connect them to your truck.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...wontt-run.html

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...on-how-to.html

 

Welcome to the forum pd59.

 

Thanks for the welcome! Lariat 85, I'll look into a junkyard harness if it will be easier. I do not have a factory tach, so that helps some. Anybody know what carb that is? Will any 1bbl caarter work? I would like to rebuild, but I might just replace it.

Galendor, a lot of people have told me they like that color too, but it drives me crazy! The original color is like a metallic silver, and I like that better, personally. I guess I'm in the minority, though, lol. Thanks again for the help, y'all sure know your stuff.

 

If you are going to convert to a Duraspark ignition system, you can use whatever carburetor you wish.

If you are looking for more power, another popular option is to replace your stock intake manifold with an Offenhauser intake and bolt on a Holley 390 4-barrel carburetor.

 

Your extant carb is a Carter. If you look in one of your pictures, you can see the Carter number down low on the driver's side of the carb. The number is 6644SS in your picture, I think. That number can help you ID that carb with a little Google-fu and maybe by a rebuild kit for it.

 

Thanks! I did some searching and found a kit for it. Lariat 85, I've seen people do the offy intake, and I may do that as well, but part of me wants to swap in a 351 as well, just for the hell of it. I'm still unsure of it at this point, I've only had the truck for a weekend. Anyone got any ideas on the trans? I'm not very knowledgable on transmissions.

 

Like the truck, and the color isn't bad either. But like you, I think I'd like the Metallic Silver better, just seems to fit on these body's. Any early to mid 80's ford vehicle with the 300 should use the same harness.
Oh, welcome to FTE.

 

I'm not your papa, but I would think twice before swapping engines. It is going to be a whole lot of work and extensive labor to swap your 300 for a 351. The 300 inline six is a great truck engine with monstrous torque down low that quietly gets the job done. The motor you already have is probably the best truck engine ever made, bullet-proof and fiercely reliable.

 

Like I said, I'm still deciding what I want to do. It would be cool to hot rod a 300 six, because it would be different, at least for me. I'm going to make this truck my fun truck, I've got an '11 chevy 2500 to handle the daily and towing. I know the 300 is one of the most reliable engines ever made, but I do love a v8 engine. I also know an engine swap takes a lot of work, I'm prepared for that. I could always rod the 300 for now and swap motors later.

 

I think you just won Lariat's vote as he runs a 302 - just to be different.

 

Well, I do like different. Here is my other project:



1974 continental coupe. 460 w/ c6 trans, all original.

 

Wow, you do like different! LAND YACHT!!!!