Hello Everyone! I have been lurking for a while but now I need some help...

I have a 1982 Ford Bronco with the 302 motor. The previous owner did some manifold and carb upgrades that make passing smog in its current state not possible. I basically got the truck for nothing from a friend so I do not intend to make them get it to pass smog as per California rules. That is one of the reasons they gave it to me so they did not have to deal with that... I am looking for a shop in the LA area that has the knowledge to get it back to stock and pass smog or a shop that can do an engine swap out of a 1995 or 1996 F150 or Bronco and have it pass smog. It would be a nice upgrade to get the larger motor with the fuel injection. I know there are places around that you can get a someone to smog pass just about anything but I want to do it the right away. Many shops I have spoken to give me dazed look when I ask them about swapping out the engine or even just putting it back to stock and getting it to run well. It seems many shops around here do not know how to work on older cars with carbs that they can not plug a computer into or what needs to be done to swap a motor from a newer vehicle and get it to pass smog. Maybe they just do not want to. I am open to any suggestions.

Thanks in Advance!

 

I would either try and get your 302 back to stock or go with a stock carbed 351w (351w isn't a direct swap and will require a bunch off different parts...probably a flywheel/flexplate, exhaust manifolds, balancer, oil pan, distributor, intake manifold).

What you're looking for is essentially a custom job and a MASSIVE project if you want to go EFI and pass emissions. You would likely spend 5-10x what the truck is worth. What's your budget for the project? It's gonna cost you at least $10k if you do the work yourself and already own the tools to do it.

An intake manifold swap alone probably shouldn't affect emissions unless it's running too rich or something. Playing with the ignition timing or a cam swap would screw you up though. I would try a stock replacement carb/manifold first, check the ignition timing and the function of the emission devices if they even existed.

 

Going back to the stock set up is really the only way here. How long since this thing was registered? You may have a mountain to climb there as well.

As for a newer EFI swap, see previous thread. Not an easy swap as you have to bring it to the specs for the year of the engine.

What is left of the OEM smog stuff? Is the Evap system there? Air pumps?
Egr and sensors in the manifolds?

My first impulse is to suggest you take it to Arizona or Nevada and sell it there.

 

The Bronco currently has a different manifold and carb. It does have an air pump and Cat. All the various hoses and valves that connect everything are gone... I was considering buying a running 1995 or 1996 bronco that passes smog and has working AC and pulling the entire engine and trans to transplant into the 1982. Should everything generally transfer over to the 1982 Bronco? Is there anything that would be a problem to transfer over? I have seen some potential 1995 Broncos going for 2K on Craigs list. One other consideration is the 1982 motor has really poor power compared to the 351 roller motors in the 1995 and 1996 models and I understand it.

 

If you bought a running '95 or '96 in good enough condition and cared for enough to pass smog, why would you take it apart to fix an '82? Just wondering.....

 

Scour Craigslist for an 1982 F150 that is going cheap. There are a ton of old work trucks out there ... Use it as a parts source to do the "SMOG" build. Also look for a Ford Truck Assembly Manual for your year. It'll have all the hose routing and such.

I'm shooting in the dark here, but you might also try a 1982 Crown Vic... I'm pretty sure they had rudimentary EFI and all the bits and pieces would prolly swap over easy enough. Same year SMOG rules, but a EFI upgrade

If your engine rules well, it would be all top end stuff and installing the 'puter ...

I would keep the final engine build to 1985 or before. Try to keep the distributor as one with a vacuum can and not ECM controlled spark timing. Much easier to tune and tweak

 

Does anyone recommend a shop in LA area that really knows their older ford vehicles and smog rules? I live in a apartment so working on it at home is not an easy option.

 

LA is car shop paradise. But finding one that you like and trust is not always easy. I'd join United 4 Wheel Drive or CORVA (clubs) and ask around their membership... They have thousands of folks in the greater SoCal area who can point you in the right direction.

You might also talk to a few of the shops that offer Dyno Tuning. Those guys are usually pretty sharp and one may know of a Ford house that does older resto work

I'd also talk to teh guys at Eco-Auto Dismantlers. They are pretty conscientious and might know of local independents that do good work. They could supply a complete say 1986 engine on a pallet with all the belts, pumps and hoses to cannibalize.

And, you might try the local high school. See if the auto shop teacher wants to do it as a project

 

I have been spending a good amount of time at pick a part lately grabbing parts for my 66 F100 swap, an have not seen any early 80's broncos or F150's. They made a bunch of them, but they do not end up there to much if at all now.

With out knowing much about early 80's smog equipment, and what you are missing. So you maybe missing a few big items or a bunch of small things. If you still have the evap canister, and I hate to say this. But the GM erod engine maybe a good option here

If not I would buy any good running F150, and go from there. Set both trucks in front of each other, and take a bunch of pics. Then go to town.

 

check into getting classic vehicle registration.
here in Nevada they exempt you from smog if its over 25 years old

 

Sorry, Calif is 1975 and earlier ... No rolling 25 year cut-off or anything like that.

 

California sucks for that