I figured I was about as smart as any shade tree mechanic but as I am preparing to install headers on my 93 F-250 with a 460 I find myself scratching my head and thinking what the heck is all this crap. There are tubes running to all kinds of little black boxes that look to be totally worthless but who knows.
Since I am not sure if this should maybe be in the engine section I'll just start off with one notable piece. It is a fairly good size plastic tank about the size of a loaf of bread that sits on the passenger fender well and has two small diameter, but fairly rigid red, one white and one black tube going into it. As I played with the tubes I heard escaping vacuum or air so I am assuming it is air or vacuum reserve. But what for.
I have more, but don't want to over due it for now.

Thanks, Rich

 

vacuum reservoir....you need it.

 

These Ford's engine compartments ain't the cleanest laid out by any means.

Get some masking tape, a sharpie, a piece of paper and pen. Proceed to draw everything and label every line until it all makes sense to ya. Color code it, draw arrows, number it, whatever you are comfortable with. Even use a digicam. That process has never steered me wrong yet in anything I do!

No sense in knowing what that stuff is- who cares as long as it is all hooked back up when you are done right?

Oh, by the way, hello neighbor! I live in Bluffdale just south of Bangerder.

 

Thanks for the tip Dale. I know I should do this and I am going out to get started right now. It would be a good idea to follow your suggestion before I get very far ahead of myself. Another thinng I aught to do here is use my digital camera. I have found that very useful in projects past.
Actually it is my nature to have to know what stuff is. I am a power substation designer and my MO is to have everything as neat and simple as possible. So when I see something that looks unecessary it bugs the crap out of me until I find out what it is. Once I find out its purpose I am fine with it.
We'll have to meet up sometime. My back yard butts up against the south end of South Jordan Middle School. About 2700 W and 10400 South.
Thanks again, Rich

 

Thanks Quaddriver. I kind of assumed that. But what does it store vacuum for? The tubing just disappears into a wiring loom and I haven't found the other end yet. Sorry, these things just drive me crazy until I can figure out their purpose. I know on my 68 T-Bird it has a big ol' coffee can vacuum reservoir, but it has a ton of vacuum operated accessories, so it is easy to see why you need a reserve.

Thanks, Rich

 

your heater/air cond for one uses vacuum.


why do you worry so much about this?


life is short.


have a beer instead.

 

Heh heh, I do think too much. Maybe that comes from not drinking beer.

 

EGR system uses this vacuum for control also.

 

Thanks to all for your answers. I have learned the hard but effective way. I lost my battle with the bolt so I had to get the head off last night. With having to mark each line, I had to learn quick what all the lines went to. I had many of the lines that were brittle and I think I will start a new thread on vacuum line repairs. Thanks again for your help everyone.