Sorry about the 'wrong answer bit'...it was tongue n cheek...like a language between compaderes...but can see how it could be seen as negative and inflamatory. Sorry!

The conversation on my behalf got past smog removal and into a claim that the following statement is innaccurate: .

a 351w properly tuned will get better mpg then any 351m/400 ever will. thats the wrong motor to try and squeeze mpg out of.
Nothing to do with smog removal

And I mentioned this in regards to smog removal: Folks won't be rushing to do it as it is not smog compliant-though could be if put in a 70's unit

And you gotta see the value in the rest of the post...right?

 

Roger,

No harm done. Its a topic some of us (me) feel rather strongly about so we (I) tend to get caught up in the fervor and lose sight of what is really being discussed. I re-read the things you mentioned. Taken out of the "smog issue" I certainly understand and am fully aware of the potential of the engines in question. To illistrate your point just a bit further if I may be permitted, I once had the 472 in my 69 Cadi' pass an emissions "sniff test" that was mistakenly administered to it. It passed for a 79 Eldorado! So yeah, I do understand that a well tuned engine with zero emissions equipment can still be made to pass if it is installed into a vehicle where the requirements are leniant enough to let it pass for that model year. Furthermore, I have absolutely no doubt that taking the time to build such an engine will yield a power plant that both performs well and runs cleanly enough to pass for a slightly newer one.

I just take issue with yanking the stuff off just because it is "emissions equipement". It shouldn't be viewed as something as "optional" as pulling the factory pinstriping just because you don't like pinstriping. There is more at stake with this stuff.

 

removing or making the smog equipment inoperable is really not the way to go with an EEC vehicle. when i bought my 91/302, i got about 11mpg, so i bought the haynes manual and a book about ford EEC and fuel injection, went through each component, and replaced: O2 sensor, EGR Valve body, EGR position sensor, and the MAPsensor, fixed a broken vaccum line. also did the whole tune up(plugs, wires, cap and rotor) all that plus some extras:Flowmaster Dual outlet exhaust, and a K&N air intake.
it got me to almost 15 mpg, but i could get better with a lighter foot and smaller tires.

but the best and most cost efficent way to fix bad milage(unless you have some major problem) is make the engine controls work for YOU. Ford knew what they were doing

ok thats my 2 cents

 

Smog equipment doesn't harm performance or mileage as long it is working properly. if the smog system is old (like the late eightys) it probably is not in great shape. this can cause poor performance and mileage. the smog pump air valve can hangup, the vacuum harness for the system can leak, cat.'s can clog, sensers wear out, etc. if you just fix whats wrong with the system, then all is well and fine.

 

The system is pretty complicated for what you get out of it and it surely isn't designed for those of us that want more performance as the early editions were not all that adaptable. I am in favor of the newer smog systems that were designed for many applications and do work well in reducing pollution. Reducing harmful exhaust is one of the main reasons I'm switching to propane. The other is, of course, economy and to build a unique motor that will kick hind end and get decent mileage.

I don't feel too guilty about replacing a early '80's and older smog motor for a good running motor w/o smog. But I admit that the smog systems, regardless of age served a good purpose. The early 80's systems, from what I hear, were not replaced by the newer (injection) technology until they got rid of all the parts they had made and that took 3-4 years. It's a marvel in complexity and all those vacuum lines....wow.