the joys of emission testing

[Ly-mo]

X2 on Wheelhorses comments. Your description says 'loaded' for the test phases where you failed- I'll take that to mean elevated rpm and engine load. If the throttle is open at all, then your mixture screws will not affect your CO numbers- only jetting. I think you'll HAVE to jet you carb down a few sizes to pass loaded CO.

Regarding the idle HC failure- the most common misfire that happens at idle and not at high speed is a vacuum leak or idle screws set too lean. I'd start there, then with plugs and wires for good measure. Make sure you base timing is correct and that you vacuum advance is connected properly (port vacuum) and functional.

Another thing, I'm guessing this truck has a catalytic converter- cats need to be HOT to work efficiently. If possible, run that truck hard up and down the highway for half an hour or so before you take it back in to the test station. Minimize idle time before it goes onto the rolls.

Good luck with this. I promise it is possible to have a bronco that runs right AND passes the test- it just takes a little tuning.

 

[broncoandy]

Emissions for a 40+ year old vehicle. Its incredible what government crap does in the world. How many are still out there polluting to the Ozone. Tennessee doesn't have that crap thank goodness and its a wonder with that Ozone thumper Al Gore. Sorry for the rant just don't like emissions on old vehicles.

 

[jckkys]

I'm amazed that a classic vehicle sight has those who would have AZJack jumping through hoops and spending piles of money trying to placate parasitic bureaucrats and political frauds like Al Gore. I, like most early model vehicle owners in Maricopa and Pima counties, have learned to do only what's needed. Any more is a waste of time and money, that has to be repeated annually.

 

[RODRIG3911]

Bump up your idle to 1000 RPMs before you go. Also drive it around awhile and let the engine warm up nice and put fresh gas in it. Works for me in Tucson..... If you haven't tuned it up in a while do that first though. My Bronco runs best with cheap autolite 25 plugs

 

[76Broncofromhell]

Good luck trying to get a carbed engine with no catalytic converters / air injection into the low CO and HC levels without cheating.

What I typically do to cheat the smog man (assuming yours doesn't take bribes) was to run the tank near empty and put in a gallon of denatured alcohol from Home Depot. This is the same stuff as what the PASS stuff is, just much cheaper.

When you put that in you will pass the HC and CO since Ethyl alcohol (yes the same shit as in vodka) has 4 less carbon atoms and oxygen in the mix. What this means is it burns, cooler and more complete and you will thus pass emissions with flying colors. Make sure you immediately fill your tank after this, because ethanol can cause corrosion and old rubber lines to swell.

I used the trick on my old 22R a few years back to get from 300 PPM (failing, max is 200) to 50 with nothing more than adding it.

Then I think I would switch to fuel injection and catalytic converters if you have to keep testing this.

 

[jckkys]

The two testing centers in Tucson have "emission repair" shops nearby. The one at 22nd & Sarnoff has 4 within 100 yds. Their whole business is getting their customers through the emission test. They know the whole thing is a farce, but dozens of times a day they get people through the BS. An engine that isn't worn out can be made to pass with no converters, EGR, or air injection. I've done it. The question is, why?

 

[WheelHorse]

The two testing centers in Tucson have "emission repair" shops nearby. The one at 22nd & Sarnoff has 4 within 100 yds. Their whole business is getting their customers through the emission test. They know the whole thing is a farce, but dozens of times a day they get people through the BS. An engine that isn't worn out can be made to pass with no converters, EGR, or air injection. I've done it. The question is, why?

I had to sit through several classes of the how it came to fruition out of Colorado State U.

It was amazing to find out that when the standards were first developed, long story short, the paint was polluting the test cell from the off gassing LOL.

Then, it went on to talk about how this lab rat, (one of the originators) would bicycle every day to the lab and he picked up 20 or so gas cap o-rings, so then they passed the gas cap test. Then, they realized that while cheating an idle test is rather easy, it's not as easy to cheat a loaded test.

Why AZ is still testing old vehicles...well, unlike IL where they died off 20 years ago to rust and rot, I imagine there must be 5% or greater of them still on the road down there.

 

[turbotim2]

Have to tried Seafoam? That stuff works miracles. Let a vacuum line suck about 1/2 the bottle up into the intake/carb. Let it sit for about 10 minutes and start her up.. Make sure none of your neighbors are home, or they might call the kitty cat rescue squad. You'll spit white smoke for a few minutes, then it'll clear up. Makes a world of difference and hopefully you'll be able to pass smog

I was told Seafoam worked miracles too so I tried it. It ended up destroying the engine in that car. I would never use or recommend any miracle cures in a bottle. Thats just my opinion/experience.

 

[jckkys]

Older vehicles are extremely popular here, especially trucks. This includes EBs. Rust isn't a problem even after the sun burns the paint off. Tags on my '68 are $15/yr. Parts are available everywhere. I went to a great car show Sat. full of restored '50s-'70s classics, many of which are DD.

 

[AZJack]

so I went down to the actual DMV rather than the 3rd party providers and without asking for a waiver i was allowed to register and transfer title from the previous owner without any hassles just showed him the collector insurance.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions I will keep working on getting the mixture correct and ensuring the bronco runs properly but for now I get to enjoy some of the beautiful AZ fall weather in my bronco rather than watching her sit in the garage.

 

[nathan_1970]

Glad to hear. It's nice to just be able to drive.

 

[JefeAZ]

I went to a great car show Sat. full of restored '50s-'70s classics, many of which are DD.

Did you see the Bronco there? I talked with him for a bit, that thing looked bulletproof! Said he was on this site

 

[toddz69]

That's Letsgocrawling's Bronco.

Todd Z.

 

[73azbronco]

That's not a crawler, that's a drop it off a cliff, let it bounce and then go crawling. Nice.



Bell Auto Service

8650 E McDowell Rd

Scottsdale, AZ 85257

(480) 941-2412


These guys got my 73 to pass after second time, then took it back and they "fixed" it so it could be driven again. They know carbed vehicles, reasonable prices, I think mine was $125 for three trips to them.

 

[fmcpeters]

Tucson Emissions

I live in Tucson also, and the first time I had to run through emissions I failed miserably. I tweaked a few things but wanted to see where it was at before I went back down. Everybody wanted to charge me at least $100 to put it on their machine and to me that just wasn't reasonable. Now if they put it on and had to tweak a few things, ok, got it. I finally found a guy who said bring it on down and if he didnt have to do anything he wouldn't charge me. I took it down there and put it on his machine and was still running outside limits. He tinkered with it a while and got it where it should be, then he went to emissions with me. He asked if he could drive it through and I said sure. Well sure enough he got it to pass. I'll just say he charged me less than $100 for tweaking and running it through. Since then if I have a problem or here if anyone that I work with has a problem I send them to him. He has always gotten them to pass and has always charged an acceptable price. His name is Randy, the emission magician, and believe me he is. Gets my friends Rav 4 with 250,000 miles through each year. If your having problems in Tucson I would give him a call. If you would like his number send me a pm,

 

[JefeAZ]

We need to plan a Tucson meet. There seems to be 30+ EBs just on this site from here

 

[jckkys]

Since it was the only EB there, it was hard to miss. There was plenty of work done on it and money invested. It's kind of a matter of taste. I prefer a Bronco that is still a Bronco. I could only see a frame and a few prices of sheet metal that were Bronco parts. The show over all tho was a pretty good. There were a lot of Ford guys with great restorations. I think I may have sold the rebuilt 428 on my back porch. I would guess there are hundreds of EBs in Tucson. I talk to EB owners and rarely find one that even visits this sight.

 

[canzelc]

Good luck trying to get a carbed engine with no catalytic converters / air injection into the low CO and HC levels without cheating.

What I typically do to cheat the smog man (assuming yours doesn't take bribes) was to run the tank near empty and put in a gallon of denatured alcohol from Home Depot. This is the same stuff as what the PASS stuff is, just much cheaper.

When you put that in you will pass the HC and CO since Ethyl alcohol (yes the same shit as in vodka) has 4 less carbon atoms and oxygen in the mix. What this means is it burns, cooler and more complete and you will thus pass emissions with flying colors. Make sure you immediately fill your tank after this, because ethanol can cause corrosion and old rubber lines to swell.

I used the trick on my old 22R a few years back to get from 300 PPM (failing, max is 200) to 50 with nothing more than adding it.

Then I think I would switch to fuel injection and catalytic converters if you have to keep testing this.

I am having a heck of a time getting my Pop's '77 to pass emissions.

What would be the preferred ratio of Ethanol to gas? Has anybody else tried this?

Should a California '77 have air injection, his either did have it originally or it has been removed. What should the timing be set at for the test?

 

[sykanr0ng]

Part of AZ's issue is a lot of those california people moved here and then got the emissions regs tightened even more for older vehicles here. Luckily so far it doesnt affect the whole state. heck californias regs for older vehicles are far more lenient than ours.

As others have mentioned whats the timing? Usually you need to be at the stock or maybe even lower to get a out of tune engine to pass. It may run like crap on your way to the test but once you pass you can reset it.
Also as was said go over the carb it only takes a couple hours at most and maybe $30 for a rebuild kit and some carb cleaner. Leaning out a carb is usually not the answer as was said richen it back up. Todays fuel has around 10% ethanol whiich already leans out the fuel mixture. So leaning it out even more will create issues.
I would put in new spark plugs. remember the usually recommened interval was about 12000 miles or once a year with these older vehicles and on a 4wd that may see a lot of lowspeed use well you may need them even sooner. Along that line new points, condensor, cap, rotor and wires if they are the stock type are a good idea as well.
Basically you want to do a complete tune up to ensure everything is good.
Id also suggest running a 195 degree tstat as well.

Sometimes I think that Californians are a plague on the Western states, they move out of the state that they have already ruined and bring along the same attitudes and ideas that they ruined it with.

 

[mattt]

Sometimes I think that Californians are a plague on the Western states, they move out of the state that they have already ruined and bring along the same attitudes and ideas that they ruined it with.

Yeah, I wish the rest of 'those' Californians would leave the state and take their crap ideas with them to Austin, Boulder, Metro Oregon & Washington and anywhere else they've brought their mental illness infected ideas. That would allow those of us still in CA, that liked CA as it used to be, to restore CA to it's former sanity and common sense great state to live in. You are correct....current CA emigrants are infecting a lot of other Western states, my apologies for their nutti-ness. ;D