Hello folks, I'm new to the ownership of my grandfathers and formerly my Dad's '81 F-150. I had some help getting it down here and now need to get it ready for high altitude driving in the Denver area. I had these parts installed prior to the move:
2 new fuel tanks
2 new sending units
tank transfer valve
remanufactured carburetor

I called a shop and asked if they could do an altitude tune-up and they recommended I get assistance in identifying the proper set of jets for the carb at this altitude. It has a Carter YFA carb, and had this tag number on the original Carb: E1TE ANA A1D9
The reman carb that I had installed is Autoline C6247 (canadian reman company).

Does anyone live around 5600ft that would have a good idea on what proper jets to install? Or...even where to get those jets?

Thanks,

John

 

I wonder if these people would know anything? THE CARBURETOR SHOP

 

Hi John,

Welcome to FTE.

Two months ago we fled Illinois and returned home to Colorado. We're a bit west of Denver, at 7800'. I have an '81 F100 with 4.9L, and installed a reman carb a year ago. The original carb tag was E1TE-TA, and I got the new carb from National Carburetors.

The truck, which I thought was running great, was far too rich for the emissions folks, and I failed the test twice. I turned it over to the pros at Marcy's in Evergreen. They discovered my reman carb was putting out 7% CO, and rejetted it, and got it down to 2%, and I passed the emissions test.

Ed Marcy had a carb rebuild kit that had been on his shelf for some 20 years, and it had the right jets in it. I have no idea what kit it was, but they would probably remember. They've been at this for a few decades. They aren't cheap, but they do spectacular work.

 

Welcome to the forum, Akhnot!

Bt the way, I am using a carburetor which was remanufactured by Autoline. It has worked very well for over a year, now. I was impressed with how well it was packaged.

Hopefully you have already done this, but it is important to install a high quality fuel filter when replacing a carburetor.

 

IIRC Holley says to go down one jet size for every 2,000' in elevation; I may be wrong but it's on their site somewhere.

Regardless, in this day and age of emissions tests, it's best to use a tailpipe sniffer to help you adjust as necessary.

 

Don't mean to hijack the thread but I have a question.

My 1981 F-150 is only emission compliant to 3500 ft. If I theoretically moved to Colorado, would they make me rejet the carb so it is compliant above that elevation?

 

I believe so, yes. They'll hook you up to a sniffer and measure, I'll hafta look at an old emissions test result I have to see what the limits are/were when I last had it tested.

 

Here's the info on the state website:

Air Care Colorado :: 1981 & Older Limits

Air Care Colorado :: 1982 & Newer Limits

 

They won't "make" you rejet the carb, but they will "make" you pass the emissions test, and most likely you won't with a carb calibrated to a lower elevation. So in the end, yes you will probably have to re-jet the carb.

 

Never thought I'd say this, but that's more strict than California is. (at the moment anyway)

California doesn't require you to upgrade, or change things from stock, in order to pass emissions. (except for commercial vehicles) Quite the opposite really as they require things to be exactly as stock.

If it's only compliant to 3500ft, and it says so on the emissions decal, then if your truck doesn't pass because of elevation issues, it's exempt.

Still may have to jump through hoops, refferees etc...

Also why some counties in California are Smog Exempt.

Thanks for the reply gentlemen... I'd rep you all if I could.

 

Hi all, thanks for your posts.

I took the truck to a local Meineke shop and had exhaust work done, a cracked exhaust manifold replaced, and a new cat installed (pocketbook said ouch a few times). I took the truck to one of the ACC locations and it passed on the first try, and with flying colors!

Test results:
HC PPM 24.8 24.1 limit 220
CO% 0.08 0.16 limit 1.2
CO2% 13.99 13.77

It still doesn't really seem to have the torque or power it should, soo...

Does anyone have an Offy Dual port (6019) with the Holley 0-8007 (390CFM) carb that does pass emissions? I am considering this mod to gain a few HP, and access to easily acquired parts. My dad has it on one of his trucks and he said it made a world of difference, but he has no emissions to worry about where he is. At some point I may upgrade the exhaust to EFI manifolds or HD, but not right away.

Anyway...to make this short...if any high altitude folks are using this combo and have notes on changes that you might have made, please post. If I find anything out...I will do the same.

Thanks again,

John

 

While we're on this subject, in a few years i'm going to be moving back to Colorado. I have a 1980 Ford Ranger F150 with absolutely no emissions equipment on it at all, I took it all off. Now does every vehicle that gets registered into Colorado have to pass a emissions test. Or is that just in the Denver area? The area I would be moving it is North of Greeley. I don't remember my Mom or step Dad ever having to take emissions test on their vehicles.

 

Yeah, they sure do. The test requirements are linked above by WillyJoe.62. You have to have the smog equipment in place that was installed by the factory and meet the requirements in the list. They do have waivers you can get, but you have to have all the equipment in pace and THEN fail the test to apply for the waiver.

In my case, I had to have a catalytic converter installed, and put a belt back on the smog pump. They also test your gas caps to ensure that they seal properly. They do a ~2500RPM and Idle test for these numbers.

<TABLE class=swp-table-table><TBODY><TR class=swp-table-head><TH>Model Year</TH><TH>CO</TH><TH>HC</TH></TR><TR class=swp-table-odd-row><TD>1970 & Earlier</TD><TD>3.5</TD><TD>1000</TD></TR><TR class=swp-table-even-row><TD>1971</TD><TD>3.0</TD><TD>1000</TD></TR><TR class=swp-table-odd-row><TD>1972</TD><TD>3.0</TD><TD>1000</TD></TR><TR class=swp-table-even-row><TD>1973</TD><TD>3.0</TD><TD>1000</TD></TR><TR class=swp-table-odd-row><TD>1974</TD><TD>3.0</TD><TD>1000</TD></TR><TR class=swp-table-even-row><TD>1975</TD><TD>2.0</TD><TD>600</TD></TR><TR class=swp-table-odd-row><TD>1976</TD><TD>2.0</TD><TD>600</TD></TR><TR class=swp-table-even-row><TD>1977</TD><TD>1.5</TD><TD>400</TD></TR><TR class=swp-table-odd-row><TD>1978</TD><TD>1.5</TD><TD>400</TD></TR><TR class=swp-table-even-row><TD>1979</TD><TD>1.5</TD><TD>400</TD></TR><TR class=swp-table-odd-row><TD>1980</TD><TD>1.5</TD><TD>400</TD></TR><TR class=swp-table-even-row><TD>1981 & Newer</TD><TD>1.2</TD><TD>220</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

I can guarantee my pickup would fail the test. The cat was rusting away so I cut it off and put a glass pack there instead. I also have no emissions things on it like I said before no carbon thing, no blue things on top of my thermostat from the radiator (ported Valve switchers I think) none of that its just my engine, distributor, A/C, Heater, and a radiator that's it. My Uncle a little while back bought a pickup from out of state and he didn't have to do a emissions test on it. I'm not sure which state he bought it from, but it was close to Colorado. Theoretically speaking when I register my pickup their going to say that it needs a emissions test right? If I don't go to the emissions test what happens? Do they try to take my pickup er what? I also am wondering will I get fined if its not got any emissions on it?

 

You need to pass the emissions test (they'll give you a printed report with a tear-off portion) and proof of insurance before you can register it and get license plates.

I'm sure you could get away with driving it with out-of-state plates for a bit, but not forever....