FordSix Performance Forum

MechRick

It depends on a bunch of factors, but 32 degrees sounds about right to me.

Are you still getting codes on a running test?

MechRick

'Spout' is the circuit from the PCM to the ignition module. When unplugging the spout connector with the engine running the code 213 will trip inadvertently. You shouldn't see it on a running test with the spout connector in place though. When Ford finally remote-mounted the TFI to the heat sink and...

MechRick

If you disconnect the spout connector while the engine is running, RPM should drop. Plugging it back in will have the opposite affect. Nothing moves in a TFI-IV distributor. You'll notice a short rod with a 90 degree bend where the vacuum advance would normally go (Ford calls it an octane rod, on en...

MechRick

I would try 12 BTDC and see how it runs. Listen carefully for ping. Are you running the stock speed density PCM? One of the advantages of Duraspark with a carb is the distributor can be recurved with springs and total advance can be limited by using a different advance plate, or restricting the tang...

MechRick

Isn't this like students lecturing the teacher? :D Opinions I have, limited experience I can share. I've always heard performance engines should be 'all in' at 3000 RPM. Tried this on a blow-through turbo on pump gas. Detonated like crazy. Conclusion? Pump gas engines with stock combustion chambers ...

MechRick

I've done something similar with a megasquirt while pulling a long, 6% grade. What I found is it's almost impossible to feel a seat of the pants difference when changing the timing tables. Advancing too much causes an audible ping, but no noticeable power change. I know the power output is changing,...

MechRick

Guys, I have to mention something you may find interesting or already know. So, about 4 days ago when the temp was about 12* warmer here, I measured in the afternoon the main bearings on my engine and they showed I had just under .0007. Four days later, when the temp is 12* colder, in the morning I...

MechRick

When I got the crank in the second block I found that the mains were out of spec. They were beyond the .0015 limit in the book My first 300 six went 285,000 miles before a carb bellcrank screw decided it wanted to be on top of #1 piston. This was an engine that rattled so bad on startup it would ma...

MechRick

I've run into this on Ford V8's. It's not uncommon to have to 'relieve' a cam bearing slightly. As long as it's limited to one edge of the bearing (and not the entire bearing) it should be fine. I had a 460 apart once that a remanufacturer had ground the cam bearing journals smaller (to save the cam...

MechRick

It may be possible to convert the hydraulics to use AN3 line. There are adapters to mate the 'o' ring/pin factory setup, something like Russell 640281 or similar. When I converted my Bronco and F150 to the ZF5, I had to use the tunnel cover off a later truck and a C6 trans mount to get it to fit und...

MechRick

Are you checking with a voltmeter? If so, just set it to DC volts, grab your two test leads and check the primary (coil) side for ~12v key on, and 0v key off. Primary side is the bottom right and middle wires in your image. Your red lead will tell you the polarity to determine which is ground (if it...

MechRick

From your image, it seems like the primary (coil) side of the relay has the correct signals. Try unplugging the relay and checking the red (orange?) wire for power, to rule out (or confirm) a short to VPWR.

Does the relay click when cycling the ign on/off?

MechRick

Sounds like a short in the VPWR circuit. VPWR comes from the ignition switch in 'run' and 'start'. It powers up (and turns on) the EEC relay, carb solenoid, TAB and TAD solenoids, throttle kicker (if equipped), tach (if equipped). The EEC relay will most likely have on the small pins (coil side), a ...

MechRick

I get a reading of 12.9 DC Volts at the battery with the alt charging at idle So I went out yesterday morning and tried the test again and it read 3-5 miliamps and it was jumping all around. After a few minutes it stabilized at around 1.0 milliamps and stayed there Immediately after I shut the truc...

MechRick

I'm running this setup on my Bronco with a Megasquirt: http://www.wide-band.com/product-p/apsx_d2n_gauge.htm https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/bosch-wide-band-oxygen-sensor-17014/18730616-p?c3ch=PLA&c3nid=18730616-P&adtype=pla_with_promotion&gclid=Cj0KCQiA3b3gBRDAARIsAL6D-N-uczHPcPaA3D...

MechRick

My recommendation would be to start with the jets, air bleeds and well tubes used on the Weber kit for 258 Jeeps. Barring that, some of the characteristics of the Weber (5200) are: Idle jet affects the transition circuits and idle. Idle is further adjustable by the screw. Trying to adjust idle with ...

MechRick

pmuller9 wrote:The Crower 284HDP (19205) .509”/.517” 220/222 284/290 110deg

Based on my experience with Comp's 268H (219 @ .050", 110 LC) that *might* lope a bit with a carb intake. Depends on idle RPM.

The lope went away with an EFI intake and aftermarket (Megasquirt) fuel management.

MechRick

If it spits fuel up out of the carb while cranking, it's most likely cam timing. To prove it, turn the balancer until the timing mark lines up at the 0 degree mark, pull the cap, the rotor should point at number 1 or number 6 (or slightly before). Since the distributor is driven by the cam, if cam t...

MechRick

The spacing between 4th and 5th on the ZF5 is a bit wide. When I'm towing my TT at a combined weight of ~12,000 lbs, I keep wishing for an extra gear between 4th and 5th or higher numerical rear gears. Higher gears would work fine, but limit top/cruise speed (probably not an issue with a bus). A ZF6...

MechRick

Years ago as a Ford dealer tech I had a Fox body come in for it's second warranty clutch at 8,700 miles. Yes, 8,700 miles. The disc was destroyed, all the clutch material down in the bellhousing. I asked the salesman that sold the car to the young girl to go for a ride with her and report back. His ...

MechRick

So that's the question right? Run the 390 pistons and not zero deck. Run the 1186 pistons and zero deck. I'm leaning towards 390 pistons with a close to zero deck. I run 93 octane anyway more for the additives than the octane. Assuming the same compression ratios is there an advantage either way? A...

MechRick

390 pistons will work, as long as the block is safe .050" over. 352 pistons will work, but will be proud of the deck a bit, milling the top of the pistons will fix that. There are no (to my knowledge) performance 352 pistons in the aftermarket. All of the above choices will result in an engine ...

MechRick

FYI, the stud mount carb heads used cast rockers, that clear the 'Power By Ford' valve cover. Other rockers may interfere with that particular cover. Clearancing the PCV baffles will allow it to fit.

I just thought you should know, and know you do.

MechRick

A properly tuned megasquirt with a mild cam won't impact MPG at all. I ran a Comp 268 with a megasquirt and performance exhaust, MPG was same as stock (16 MPG). The stock injectors are wimpy 14 lb-hr. Running aftermarket ECU's open up the possibility for higher flow injectors. If you want the engine...

MechRick

I would try to chose a system that would allow for some user flexibility. The ability to plug in larger injectors or tune with a laptop for safe running under high boost levels at a minimum. The problem with high boost levels is choosing just enough injector to supply the needed fuel at WOT and high...

MechRick

The purge valve and associated hoses should be a visual inspection. Pressure testing should be from the canister toward the tank(s).

MechRick

Check the rubber lines going to the carbon canister underhood. Fuel vapor will make them soft and eventually, leak. The '80-'96 trucks all use a simple evap system (even the '96 obdII trucks-always wondered how Ford got away with that). The vents at the top of the fuel tanks have lines that should b...

MechRick

Sounds good! Can't wait to hear it with a more aggressive cam.

Glad the lazy #4 cylinder was an easy fix...Whenever I hear one cylinder bleeding off while cranking, my peril-sensitive sunglasses go opaque...

MechRick

This is a subject I've tried to dig up information on (with little success). I finally got a chance to crawl under both of my trucks and take some quick and dirty measurements. All checks were done under the driver's door where the frame grows in height. F150 height: https://fordsix.com/img/upload/2...

MechRick

Awww, shucks, Joe. I'm just having fun with junk....

MechRick

Explorers have 31 spline axles, but need perches welded on top of the axle tubes. About 1.5" wider. Later ones have disc brakes in the rear, desirable in the event the C clip 'hat' breaks off for axle retention. Keeping my eyes open, may score one from a 4.10-equipped Explorer if I'm diligent...

MechRick

I intended to roll the edge, but it looks good enough I may not. Body lift with the 2" square tubing is 2", tires are 31x10.50-15. Also removed the carpet (had to to access the body mount bolts), and although I intend to replace the carpet at some point (I'm not fond of red interiors), dec...

MechRick

Untrimmed...

...and trimmed.

See the difference? It's subtile, especially in the rear.

MechRick

Your idle screw setting seems to indicate the idle circuit (and transfer circuit) are rich. Make sure the float setting is correct and the air bleeds are clear. It is possible to drill air bleeds oversize to lean the idle circuit, but you really should have a wideband on the truck (a good idea anywa...

MechRick

The body lift had an expected benefit. The header for a car application I had hanging on the shop wall now clears the evaporator plenum. Installed it and welded up some 2.5" pipe. https://fordsix.com/img/upload/2018/09/02/20180902103201-7b47d8e7.jpg https://fordsix.com/img/upload/2018/09/02/201...

MechRick

Body mounts are new. Getting the old body mount sleeves apart took the better part of a weekend.

Steering shaft had to be lengthened 1.5".

MechRick

https://fordsix.com/img/upload/2018/09/02/20180902103156-03f20354.jpg https://fordsix.com/img/upload/2018/09/02/20180902103204-281aa9b5.jpg https://fordsix.com/img/upload/2018/09/02/20180902103206-721db4ad.jpg https://fordsix.com/img/upload/2018/09/02/20180902103203-9b02face.jpg

MechRick

Fitted bigger tires. Had to trim the front sheet metal and body lift it, something I did not want to do, but tire rub off road forced my hand. I used 2" square steel tubing cut into blocks and reinforced with round tubing. Body mount bolts are metric (12x1.75). I bought some 8" NC bolts an...

MechRick

I tweaked the drive pullies. Using a crank hub and machining an Escort crank pulley to fit dropped the diameter a bit. Installed a bigger alternator pulley. The goal is to slow the clutch driven fan and A/C pulley to reduce drag on the engine. https://fordsix.com/img/upload/2018/09/02/20180902103207...

MechRick

Back in Nevada finally. Driving the Bronco again. Got rear-ended in a rain storm (I could stop, guy behind me didn't). Bumpers and exhaust were damaged. https://fordsix.com/img/_data/i/upload/2018/09/02/20180902103208-1818265f-sq.jpg https://fordsix.com/img/_data/i/upload/2018/09/02/20180902103157-f...

MechRick

THE FRENCHTOWN FLYER wrote:Rick, Do you know about the 2100 / 2150 stuffer blocks for the top of the fuel bowl, to prevent fuel slosh?

Is it a factory item? I've seen the black phenolic ones that drop over the float bowl pivot.

MechRick

I've installed Weber 32/36 carbs on Jeep 258 sixes. They work surprisingly well. I switched to 2100's on Jeeps because they tend to work better at extreme angles. FTF, I've wondered if it's possible to split a Holley or Edelbrock down the middle to create a progressive two barrel. The three barrel i...

MechRick

M5OD were all internal slave. No shift fork, no pivot for a shift fork. ZF 5 speeds behind small blocks and sixes were internal slave. Behind big blocks and diesels, external slave. All of them are integral bellhousing. There are AN (Army/Navy) adapters for stock hydraulic slaves and masters. It's p...

MechRick

There are some serp belt water pump drives that are right hand thread. When in doubt, note if the water pump pulley is smooth or grooved. It will be left hand thread if running off the back side of the serp belt (smooth pulley). I've been removing fans this way for 25 years. Actually have the correc...

MechRick

Thanks for the update.

The EGR problem might be a broken plastic vacuum line. With years of heat cycling they have the resilience of uncooked spaghetti.

MechRick

What's the code number?

MechRick

My ears were burning... What symptoms are you experiencing? Some of the older Ford PCM's are starting to show their age. You can sometimes spot the problem by removing the cover and inspecting the capacitors on the board. They will swell with age and sometimes leak. The symptoms vary widely dependin...

MechRick

Try resizing images smaller. I use 800 x 600, seems to work, and avoids the 'quota reached' warning.

MechRick

When the bushing spins, it ruins the aluminum pump housing. Any good transmission parts supplier will have reman pumps, torque converters and seals. There is a rubber 'O' ring on the outside of the pump, and a paper gasket between the pump and transmission. You'll have to stand the trans upright, re...

MechRick

Most likely the front pump bushing galled, stuck to the torque converter and then spun in the pump housing. It's an E4OD thing. Usually happens under load.

If so, it will need a front pump, and possibly a torque converter. A new/reman pump will have the bushing staked so it can't spin.

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