Hello Friends,

I posted a while back about an idle problem...sputters and stalls on decelleration. This led to several potential answers. But now I have some questions.

This is a 1985 E-150 Club Wagon that used to have a 351-4V-HO. To my surprise, as I was trying to figure out the PCV/Breather/Vacuum configuration, the darn engine is really a 1988 351 (took it to the Ford dealer who helped me figure it out). Well whoever did the replacement did one heck of a job, because it doesn't leak anything and runs real strong. The thing that amazes me the most is how they put the '85 intake and Holley 4bbl on this '88 former fuel injected engine. Obviosly they got a little lost at the PCV area and oil filler tube.

I figured out the PCV system and configured it to the '85 351, except the PCV and vent are on opposite valve covers. I removed the oil filler tube (which was merely sitting atop the oil filler opening on the valve cover). I picked up a Mr. Gasket HP oil cap, which seemed to be the only thing that would fit into this particular valve cover that has a breather tube outlet. I hooked the breather vent hose to the oil cap, and the other side to the breather filter on the air cleaner. Then, I hooked about 3 ft. of 5/8 neo hose to the original breather vent nipple on the valve cover, which is unobstructed, and plugged the other end. This hose will work for filling the oil. Even though the configuration "looks" backwards, it is actually connected as it should be.

So now I wonder what the heck else might need to be accommodated to this newer engine. I can't see any open vacuum lines anywhere else. Here are a few questions:

1. Do I use 1985 plugs, wires, and cap, or should I use 1988 tune-up parts?

2. Are the oil filters the same?

3. I am sure the exhaust manifolds are from the 1985 engine, however, I have this gut feeling something is not quite as it should be with the exaust set-up. In either event, what would be the BEST way to configure the exaust system using what year/type of manifolds, cats, muffler(s), etc given this is a club wagon? I would not be adverse to going HP if this will work better.

4. What else should I be looking for that may cause a mismatch problem in the future?

I still have the choppy idle problem intermittantly. I think it is because of the idle settings. Most of the time, the idle stays a teensy bit higher when stopped. However, on occasion, the idle will drop to what it was probably originally set on the 1985 Holley, then it will sputter/stall if it hasn't been running continuously for a time. Or if it has been running for over an hour straight, if the idle drops, it just runs rougher at idle instead of sputtering. Also, when the van has a heavy load in back, it idles and runs like nobody's business with no problems whatsoever. My son suggested throwing sandbags in back.

It seems to me that the carburator might need to be "tweaked" to the newer engine. These problems seem pretty minor, and overall, I am real happy with performance. But I sure would appreciate some helpful tips.

Thanks for your help...

Joseph

 

Having a newer engine assembly is not that big of a deal. If they had swapped the valve covers, you wouldn't have had the problems you've had with the PCV system. You may need a carb rebuild, but it shouldn't need recalibrating. Do you have a mechanical fuel pump on the drivers side? If so, they also changed out the front timing cover for the fuel pump. The exhaust should be set-up according to the chassis type and year. You should have all van parts on the exhaust system, which may not be much different from a truck. As far as the plugs and filter, they are probably the same too. Just go to the parts store and get them to look up both years to see if they do take the same sparkplugs.