guys-

took my '68 f100 to get inspected this past saturday. in the past, i've had a 'contact' who would inspect it without looking too hard, if you know what i mean. unfortunately, it seems that he's gotten into trouble, and can no longer do state inspections.

so, i took the truck to another place...and got drilled.

1. my running lights go out when the headlights are turned on.
is this normal? the turn signals still work like they're supposed to.

2. and the show-stopper....
the truck has headers, and i live in warm NC, so there's no air pipe from the air cleaner down to the exhaust manifold. the guy called it a 'thermostatic control valve', and said that it has to be installed. but, there's no where to install it, since it has headers instead of manifolds.

i'm thinking of looking for another 'contact', but thought i'd see what you guys had to say-

thanks,
sam

 

Sam, the parking lights should go off with the headlights on, in the ’70 and above models they stay on regardless. If the inspector doesn’t know that then he’s an idiot and you should see someone else.

You can buy an aftermarket kit for the hot air stove. It will clamp to your headers and have a hot air pipe to connect to the bottom of your air cleaner snorkel. The thermostatic control valve is already built into the snorkel.

Here in SoCal when inspections were required on my ’68, that hot air pipe seemed most important even though I had a 4 bbl. on an engine that did not come from the factory with an optional 4 bbl. plus a centrifugal only advance distributor. Go figure.

Barry

 

Hedman included a heat stove kit with my Elite headers (#89218) for my 351M. I believe it is made out of stainless steel too.

1978 F250 Ranger 4x4 - 351M

 

Sam, What county are you in? What are running lights? Your inspector may not be used to old trucks. Your truck should only have to have a safety inspection, and not have to have the pipe that you are concerned about.

John
jowilker
[link:www.ford-trucks.net/users/jowilker|Club FTE since 01 01] My FTE Page

[link:www.ford-trucks.net/users/jowilker/NCFTE.html|NC Truck Owners] NC Ford Truck owners group

66F100s Rule
In the cool still quite of night you can hear chevies rusting away.

 

john-

i'm in new hanover county. the restrictions here aren't as tight as your neck of the woods (no exhaust sniffing here). i was really surprised that the guy mentioned the warm-air pipe at all.

for running lights, i'm talking about the front turn signal lights. if i pull my light switch out halfway, they come on. if i pull it out all the way, they switch off (as the headlights come on).

but, the turn signals flash like they're supposed to, whether the running lights are on or not.

i'm hoping BBB is right- i'm going to try another inspection shop, and see what they say. it's only another $8.25 for a second opinion.

 

Your "running lights" or parking lights are doing exactly what they are suppose to do from the factory. My 69 is the same way. When headlights are on, the front running or parking lights, the amber lenses that double as turn signals, go off. Tell the inspector to know what he's talking about. As far as the choke stove, there are inexpensive Help section kits to make a new one when your old one is gone from rust or just plain gone. It consists of a small sheetmetal enclosure w/ a couple of holes that you strap onto manifold or header pipe. Then you run a soft metal tube that you bend and put insulating sleeve over up to choke housing. Lucky me, here in Washington the inspections are no longer for 76 and older. I once had an inspector w/ his ignition/tach sensor, telling me my truck was running at 2300 rpm, when my tach and ears were plainly telling me that I was at about 650rpm. I couldn't tell him anything. Eventually he put a clip over a spark plug wire and that was still 150rpm more than my stuff tells me, but was good enough to pass. I don't know about where you live, but I find that our inspections station experiences vary quite abit depending on which station, and even what time of day. Try a different station.

BBT

 

I thought you were talking about the parking lights, but needed you to say so. That guy is pulling your chain. Make him show you for your truck that you have to have what he says. And like the others have suggested, try another inspection station.

John
jowilker
[link:www.ford-trucks.net/users/jowilker|Club FTE since 01 01] My FTE Page

[link:www.ford-trucks.net/users/jowilker/NCFTE.html|NC Truck Owners] NC Ford Truck owners group

66F100s Rule
In the cool still quite of night you can hear chevies rusting away.

 

Sam,

Barry is correct on the Parking/Turn signals. They light up in the "half pull" position but turn off when the headlights switch is fully pulled. I know because I just went through the same on my '68.

I really can't believe that they require any type of emissions test or equipment on such a truck. I'd try another shop. I used to be a certified inspector and if I really wanted to, I could fail just about any car I wanted, but the reality was I didn't unless the car was a heap. You can always head out to a more rural county if you're in a more populated area that is concerned with smog.

 

I used to drive a 1969 E-200 Van everyday.I thought it was exempt from emissions here in Illinois,but I thought wrong.First,It wouldn`t pass because the brake-light was stuck on.Then I ripped the wire off and came back 5min later,then It wouldn`t pass because my exhaust pipe didn`t go back over the rear axle and exit under the bumper.I tried to explain to him that the exhaust pipe was original and it is supposed to exit in front of the right-rear wheel.He would not believe me.Told me I had to have a new tailpipe installed to pass.It seems like on older vehicles they do what ever they can to fail you.

 

Hey guys-

Sad as it may be, if your truck came equipped with a heat riser and thermostatic control valve, PCV valve, air pump, etc... then it all has to be in place and in "working order", even for a safety inspection.

I know I'm setting myself up for a thrashing, but check with your local Department of Public Safety- they'll probably tell you the same.

The reason I have working order in "" is because an inspector is not allowed to take anything apart to see if it has been hollowed out, if you know what I mean

 

buy one about 40 bucks if you know were

 

John Miller! Welcome to FTE! I see this is your first post, one of many I hope. Checking the date of our friend rusty68's initial post I noticed that it is 18 months old. I sure hope he has passed inspection by now.
William in Atlanta