Good afternoon,
I am brand new to this site as I have just acquired a 1985 F150 Inline 300 6 cylinder Manual Transmission 4x4. From the site reviews I thought this would be the best place to start. The vehicle was acquired for $800.00 and an iPhone. (I'm serious) The engine was rebuilt 4 years ago. Since then, it has been sitting and not even started up during that time.

I have completed the following:To the Fluids/Engine
Oil Change w/ new filter
Transmission Fluid Flush
Transfer Case Fluid Flush
Rear Deferential Fluid Flush
Front Differential Fluid Flush
Radiator Flush
Drained Both Fuel Tanks & and Verified No Rust
Cleaned Carburetor
New Air Filter
New Spark Plugs & Wires
Converted Air Conditioning to R134A (By a shop for the EPA Folks)


Now to the important part. Failed Pre-Smog Check Yesterday
I live in CA, which I know is not the best place for these old Fords. However, I need to know what can be done to help the following areas of failure. I love this truck and am not going down without a fight. Please help me with ideas items to get the truck back up to it's healthy, stump pulling, and weekend driving self!



Visual Fails

Thermostatic Air Cleaner Hose - Missing
Fuel Cap Integrity Test - Fail
Ignition Timing (16 BTDC) - Defective

As I am attempting to be as detailed as possible here are several photos regarding the truck for you reference and possible enjoyment.
Interior - Truck - Album on Imgur
Outside - Imgur: The most awesome images on the Internet
Motor - Imgur: The most awesome images on the Internet

 

Are all the vacuum lines hooked up or are some of them plugged off? You are going to have to get some codes from the computer also to see what it says. I am not positive, but I think the EECIV code procedures for a fuel injected engine will work to talk to your engine computer also. You might have to get a factory manual off ebay and really get into this thing.

 

16 degrees BTDC seems like a lot of initial timing. Is that the factory spec?

 

You say it's been rebuilt four years ago and sitting since that time.
Maybe it just needs to be driven so the rings will free up and seat?

Is there a vacuum routing/compliance sticker on the radiator support?
Perhaps the inspection guys don't know enough to pull the Spout connector before checking timing?

16* seems like a lot (for static timing) but it is actually very little advance for idle under no load.
Follow the instructions on that sticker to set the distributor and see how far off you are (if any)

Replacing the cap and filter tube isn't going to cost much time or $.

 

I believe the factory spec. was 10 degrees BTDC. With the air cleaner hose missing, perhaps the temperature was not optimal and the carburetor was running a little rich? Is the choke fully open while being tested? These engines came with 2 catalytic convertors. Are both still in place? How many miles on them? How long has it been since the Oxygen sensor has been replaced?

Welcome to the forum, Brian Goodman!

 

I wonder if the manifold heat plenum is functioning properly.

Anyway, a freshly rebuilt engine is going to need some miles to seal.

 

I wonder if they disconnected the spout connector when they went to check the timing? That's how you set the base timing on one of these computer controlled ignitions.

 

I will be checking the vacuum lines tonight. What type of system would I use to get the codes from the computer? OBD?

 

Yes, all of the compliance stickers are well taken care of. I do know while I was watching the smog technician, which took him over an hour to complete, he seemed to be stumbling around an awful lot. It's possible he didn't know what he was doing.

 

I didn't realize the hose actually did that much. Would this be a computer controlled choke? There is only one catalytic converter. I have no idea how many miles are on it. It looks rather weathered to be honest. I will replace the Oxygen sensor this weekend. Since they are only $20.

 

I will be going to the DMV and getting the 30 day move permit, since the failed smog test. How many miles should I try and put on it in that time? Other than as many as I can lol.

 

Should they have? I'll need to know when I bust out a timing light on it this weekend.

 

Our Moderator, ctubutis, provided this link some time ago: http://www.therangerstation.com/tech...ry/OBD_I.shtml

 

Bummer, the link doesn't work. Though from the link am I correct saying it's an OBD I?

 

Fixed the link