Well you need to set the timing, then adjust the fuel mixture and idle, then check and adjust the timing again, then fuel and then idle, untill one of the adjustments doesn't effect the others and all readings are at factory specs.

This is because all three can effect the others. Changing one can effect the other two.

 

Leaded gasoline was available well past 1985. I moved to CA in 1985 and lived there for 6 years. I drove a 1971 Chevy and had no problems getting leaded gasoline until I finally got rid of the car, which was a couple of years after I moved there.

 

Brian, while you are checking things out make sure you check for vacuum leaks.

 

rico thank you. i have had so many arguments with people about leaded fuel. everyone tells me they got rid of leaded fuel in the 70's but i know it was still avaiiabe into the mid 80's. i will check for vaccuum leaks. its not hard on a leaded fuel truck. there are only about 3 vaccuum lines i think.

 

Neat, I learned something new, sorry I doubted you. Unique truck! If it turns out to not be timing or fuel-related you can check your battery/charging system, an easy check. If those are weak they can sometimes cause weird problems. I don't think it will be that, just throwing it out there.

 

Yep, leaded fuel was available up till the late 80's. But it was low lead unlike the leaded fuel from the 70's and before. I had to run an octane booster in the late 80's because of that. As far as timing and carb adjustment you might want to buy or rent a vacuum gauge. Setting timing and carbs are a lot easier, and I think more accurate, done with a vacuum gauge.There are several write ups on here about how to do it just do a search.

 

My point wasn't so much about the (lack of) availability of leaded gasoline but, to be more precise, I doubt Ford would have produced an engine in the 80s *intending* it to run on leaded gasoline.

One sure way to find out, though - post the VIN.

 

I fully agree. I believe it would have been more that the truck "could" run leaded fuel, meaning no cat and larger filler neck opening, than it "had" to run lead because of the older softer valves and seats. Just can't see them producing 2 completely different heads for the same motor when the newer heads would work with either leaded or unleaded fuel.

But back to the problem, it sounds like maybe the vacuum advance might not be operating properly, have you check that it works?

 

galendor my truck has a completly new charging system. new battery new alternator new voltage regulator.

kedwinh ive never heard of setting a carb with vacuum gauge before. ill look into that thanks.

you might be right that its not meant to run leaded but that it can run it. it has no cat and the larger filler neck.

the vacuum advance does work.

vin number is 2FTEF15Y8FCB09932

 

I hate to distract folks further from the OP's issue...but why were Canadian-built trucks so different from their American counterparts? Were Canadian laws so much looser at the time that it made financial sense for Ford to build Neanderthal trucks for the Canadian market? Or were these destined for export, or...?

 

It wasn't about building Neanderthal trucks, it was about money and the availability of unleaded fuel. It was cheaper to build trucks without cats if not needed. Unleaded fuel was not available world wide when it started in the US.That's also why the auto manufacturers came up with the F150, Heavy Chevy and other pickups. By upgrading the rating of the trucks they could get around the cat's and pollution controls for another couple years in this country.

Brian, do a advanced search under the 300/6 forum for vacuum tuning or setting timing. There are a couple good writeup about it. It's the only thing I use to do that now.

 

This discussion about unleaded fuel and all isn't so far off topic and may bring out some useful information.

I plugged the VIN into:

https://www.fleet.ford.com/maintenan...ls/default.asp

But it unfortunately doesn't tell us the grade (or blend) of fuel, only that it's a gasoline-powered 6-banger (unless I missed it somewhere).

I see it was built at the Ontario Truck Plant, though.

That's OK, though.... I'm not trying to be a jerk or anything, just wanting to clarify everything and maybe even educate some people (myself included).

The wide-open filler neck, yes, that to my knowledge means it's not restricted to unleaded gasoline.

Could also mean somebody changed that thing at one time, I guess.

I'm not sure of how Canada & Mexico were involved in the conversion to unleaded, I was about 10 yo when it came out here in the US and wasn't paying too much attention.

The big thing that concerns me, though, is if the valves are designed to accommodate unleaded fuel or not. If not, the valves will "sink" into the seats in the heads after time and not operate as effectively.

Perhaps others who are more knowledgeable will chime in, we have those kinds of people here at times.

 

VIN breakdown

2FT = Ford Truck of Canada

E= Hydrallic brake class E: GVWR: 6001-7000

F15= F-150

Y= 300-6

8= Check Digit

F= 1984 model

C= Plant of Manufacture: Ontario Truck

B09932= Production sequence number.



GALENDOR:

[quote=Originally Posted by brian1985f150]
my truck has the controll modual monted on the fender. thats its computer. there is no where to hook up a scanner. its a 1985 carburated truck built to run on leaded fuel.

What he's calling the computer is the DS-II blue grommet ignition module. There is nothing really unique about it. Some Canada provences, Latin America etc... were more lax with smog laws than in the USA. Just like 49 state was more lax than California.

As for leaded fuel:

1975: Very few places had Unleaded, my father's 1976 F-100 was always running out of unleaded fuel.

1985: Very few places had Regular leaded fuel in the USA. Very bad for trucks built before 1975.

More Information: Non-Catalyst trucks in the 80's could run either unleaded or Leaded gasoline. Catalyst equipped trucks could only run Unleaded.

A 1984 F-350 with a 460, could run on leaded fuel, or unleaded; as it was non-catalyst, even in California.

EDIT: When the first catalyst equipped trucks came off the line, it was mandated that they be equipped with "lead nozzle restrictive" fuel filler necks, and have the words: UNLEADED FUEL ONLY, placed on the instrument cluster, and next to the fuel tank filler opening. Non-Catalyst trucks will not have these marks from the factory.

 

dorsai to the best of my knowledge the reason canadian laws were looser on emissions is because of the lower population of canada we did not have the same amount of pollution. therefore ford made there canadian trucks as cheap as the could to increase affordability and sales.

kedwinh another reason my truck has zero emission controls is because its a heavy half or a f-155 just a way to get around emissions like you stated. i did a search for 300 6 vacuum tuning but came up with nothing. maybe because im kinda knew to the forum? could you help me out a post a link to the page?

ctubutis im sorry but i have a hard time considering you knowledgeable with that picture. im not sure about the valves but the truck has 200 000 km on it running on manly unleaded fuel. i dont put lead additives into the fuel and neither did my father. it still runs quite well so i dont think there is anything wrong with the valves or seats. it has developed a ticking under the rocker cover though.

81-f-150-explorer thanks for the info. my truck has no markings on it anywhere that say unleaded only. although i bought a southern box for it because canadian winters and road salt had completly rotted out the original box. on the southern box a sticker that says unleaded only is on the fuel tank trap door hinge

 

Here ya go. Just scroll down to post #8 and there's a fairly good writeup on using the vacuum gauge.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...nd-tricks.html