my friend is offering me a 1986 p/u 2wd 22r for $400. it is registered non op and wont pass smog. it has been sitting for about a year. i know the exhaust manifold is loose. i know the cat is good(cause its new), and it runs smooth. ill check plug wires, plugs, cap, rotor, and vacuum lines, what else should i look over for reasons why it wont pass smog?

 

 

Valve/rocker clearances. Download a copy of a FSM or get a Haynes/Chilton's for the procedure.

Check your timing and EGR valve.

Might also check/replace the air filter.

 

can you clean egr's? is there anything that i should be careful of if i pull it off?

 

You can't clean the EGR valve itself but you can clean the passages on which it flows. Its prolly clogged but if its not having any driveablity issues then its fine. Make sure you put OEM tune-up parts and NGK plugs are a requirement. Air filter and vac leaks. If the exhaust manifold is loose then the gasket is prolly been blown out and i'd get a new exhaust manifold gasket and tourqe the manifold down good. Check for other exhaust leaks under truck make sure its all buttoned up.

 

Clean the EGR passages and the pair valve (i think thats what its called) square box under the intake manifold, it has reed valves inside of it and they get plugged up with carbon, also check all of the vacuum lines for leaks, make sure the valves and timming are adjusted properly. also, how many miles on the engine ?, has the timming chain ever been replaced ?.

 

thanks, i dont remeber how many miles are on it, i think its well under 175000, i dont think the timing chain has ever been replaced.

 

Make sure you have fresh gas and do a Seafoam treatment.

 

Knowing which part(s) of the smog test it fails would help.

 

If you dont want to hassle with it let me know and I will buy it.

 

i wanna hassle with it, its what i do. i was just told it didnt pass smog. im guessing it just needs a tune up because the guy who owns it believes that if its still working nothing needs to be changed(he owns a lot of fords)

 

Try to get a reading from the last time it failed smog and post the results. The results from the test will tell all. Or if the results are not available take it to get smogged then post those results.

 

x2 on the Seafoam trick; whether you think it needs it, or not.

 

Go head n buy it , change spark plugs/oil/filters, fill it up with fresh gas, then take it to one of those places that do pre-test. some do it even for free, [check the penny saver] it may pass, you'll never know if you don't try. you can put your left hand in the fire if they don't make it pass.

 

it has 162,000 original miles! im going to pick it up this week. the to do list will be... oil and filter change, new plugs, wires, cap, rotor, o2 sensor, seafoam, fresh gas, adjust valve to rocker clearance, and clean the egr. then ill bring it to get checked and see what happens.

 

Uhh before doing anything run it with fresh gas untill it's got less then a gallon of gas in it. Add 1 gallon of 100% acitone to the gas tank. Take test. It will pass unless you have a vapor leak at the cap or on the tank.
PRH