Well hot digity! thanks to your picture I was able to spot it faster than my coon hounds see the cat walking by. so I pulled the electronic connector off and the thing was broke. the ect sensor was. The electric prongs were still connected but the plastic that hold the connection tight was just missing. had to be like that before I even bought the truck.
Anyways went to O'Reillys and bought a new one. Sprayed QD Elecronic cleaner in connector and Di-Electic grease on the new part. Drove my truck about a mile and noticed it is not very powerful. I parked it and had to do some fire dept hose testing for about 4 hours. I am wanting to spend more time on it than I do but wont be till Sunday after noon before I can get to it.
It back pops, not sure if its a backfire! but when I down shifted comeing back from the mile I had drove 4 hours earlier. I always downshift; saves breaks! This poping is new to the truck, and I did get it up to fifth gear but not like the truck used to run.
What you thinking I need to do? Do I need to do the code reader again? the check engine light did not come on last night.
oh crap I forgot. It also sounds like a exhaust maybe leaking near the dounut but I held my hand over pipe for a couple seconds and didnt see a leak!!

 

All that gas from trying to start may have melted your cat
Climb under and whack it good with your hand, and see if it rattles.

You can check your codes again, won't hurt.

 

I have a real good mufler man, Buso is his name. I am running better now. I have learned alot. now I wanna clean the how thing and make it look like new. maybe coming up this spring I will do that. I also want to take these 81 f-100's and get them going. I will start a new thread or what ever to do that. I will post on here again soon as I run another code check

 

No problem!
We're always glad to help. When you get ready for the 81, post the new thread in here
1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks - Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums
That's the 80-86 section.

 

will do. I had my son turn the distributor until it sounded good to him and now I dont have the back poping, and seems to run lil better. cat is next on list. Do you have any get better power and fuel economy advice on this 4.9l?

 

They have a sweet spot in the timing. All your parts are new, so just drive it.
My 89 f 350 4 x 4 gets 10 mpg loaded, empty, whatever. But it's got 4.88 gears and 35" tires
My 94 f 150 4 x 2 gets between 20 and 24 depending what I'm doing with it, but it's all stock. Both have 5 spd transmissions