I Am Starting To Hate My Truck

[1986scottsdale]

Its been running pretty bad, didnt pass smog and i also need tires. I really like this truck i just got it painted a couple months back it was what i got when i first got my license and its been in my family for 15+ yrs. For me there is 2 options

1.
Fix it enough to pass smog and get tires and possibly new wheels

OR

2.
Park it for a while and get a new motor. I saw a 350 on craigslist complete from Carb to Oil pan for only $450. That would be cool but idk if that will pass smog if my truck came with a 305

Sorry about the long rant im just trying to vent out a little bit of this frustration out

[gchemist]

Post what failed. A few tricks and adjustments will help pass it. If you have high NOx gases, the cat is probably not working properly. For smog trucks, a high flow replacement is my recommendation. Magnaflow makes a nice unit to weld in.

I hate my truck too. I drive it like I stole it.

[Pop's C-10]

How would they know a 350 from a 305...unless you tell em...have you tried to tweek on it a bit..ole trucks get out of tune sometimes

[1986scottsdale]

Originally Posted by gchemist

Post what failed. A few tricks and adjustments will help pass it. If you have high NOx gases, the cat is probably not working properly. For smog trucks, a high flow replacement is my recommendation. Magnaflow makes a nice unit to weld in.

I hate my truck too. I drive it like I stole it.

Thanks and i might also drive mine a little too hard at times



and how exactly is my gas cap not functional?

[1986scottsdale]

Originally Posted by Pop's C-10

How would they know a 350 from a 305...unless you tell em...have you tried to tweek on it a bit..ole trucks get out of tune sometimes

No i didnt get a chance to yet. I just had the test done today.
I am going to take it to get the timing adjusted and see if thats it.
My friend told me about this http://www.lucasoil.com/products/dis...tid=8&loc=show

[hatzie]

Originally Posted by 1986scottsdale

Thanks and i might also drive mine a little too hard at times.
and how exactly is my gas cap not functional?

They pressure test the gas cap. Get a new one.

Set the ignition timing.

High HC is unburned fuel. You failed at idle but not at speed.
When was the last time you replaced & gapped the spark plugs and looked at the cap and rotor?
Is the PCV valve new and the air filter clean?
Did you change the oil just prior to the test?

Drive it in low gears for 30-45 minutes, on your way to the test, to make sure the block is really HOT.

I've heard that a bottle of isopropyl alcohol in a tank of high test 91+ octane fuel will help as well.

[gchemist]

GROSS POLLUTER!!! That's funny!! California would fail mine just by looking at it. Your idle is high! Lower idle. Use a vacuum gauge and tune the carb.

Read this on emission gas diagnostics: http://www.automotiveu.com/zack5gas.htm

[jitteryguy]

thats a really nice look'n truck, it would be worth a crate motor if it came to that. are you mechanicly incline'd ? if not a good tune and some of the tricks mention'd above. just dont get rid of the truck, it's to clean to trash just cause it needs some attention to pass emmission's.

[MalibuSSwagon]

The inspection sheet says your ignition timing is at 12 degrees BTDC. I believe 4 degrees is stock, so you may have to set it to 4 degrees to pass the functional check. Get a timing light, if you wanna drive an old truck you should learn how to fix it anyways, cuz things are going to break

[sumran]

That is a great looking truck that has history and work invested. It can be frustrating when you think your done but are not. When you get it dialed in it will run better and pass the test. You will likely fall in love again and be fired up that you got it done.

You can fix a tune-up and carb adjustment problem by changing the engine, but it is an expensive option. And the last steps if you take that option? Tune-up and carb adjustment.

[1425956]

That is a good looking truck...Don't get rid of it. I think a little bit of tweaking will get you passed, based on the info you posted. Hang in there. I think we have all hated our trucks at one time or the other.

Trucks are like people...The only thing to love are the imperfections. If everyone/thing was perfect, everyone/thing would be the same.

[tucsonjwt]

I had the same experience as you in AZ recently. I finally took it to a shop that specializes in restoring old vehicles and they put it on the engine analyzer. It took two mechanics about 40 minutes of adjusting but they got it to pass emissions. Cost was $50 well spent. Most mechanics today don't have a clue about working on old vehicles - no computer to tell them what to do. Unless you have a lot of equipment, you will do a lot of "check this, adjust that" without really knowing what effect your work has. If your engine starts and runs well, does not smoke a lot or blow oil, then I would stick with what you have. My truck has an old Goodwrench rebuilt 454 with stock Qjet, so it is a challenge to get past emissions, but this is the first year in the past 8 years of ownership that it has failed, so there should be hope for your engine.

[manimal]

Also check the EGR and make sure it is working. But definitely back off the timing.

[1LowToy]

The smog test sheet is telling you all you need to know. Look at bold print on the visual. Gas cap Fail. Timing Fail.

New gas cap= easy job

Set timing to specs. May not be that easy as your timing mark is actually behind the water pump. You need a digital timing sensor to go down between the the block and the water pump. I don't know if this tool is available at you local Kragon or autozone on the too rental program.

After the timing is brought back to spec the carburator idle will likely be too low. Set to spec. Idle enrichment screws may also need to be adjusted.

With the timing too far advanced the carburator idle is not set correctly and your getting too high of an HC reading at idle. If it were a bad catalytic converter your emissions would also be high at 2500 rpm.

Keep in mind the '86 model likely have a feedback carburator. Meaning that the carburator at mid range mixture control is being monitored by and adjusted by the onboard computer. The carburator has to be adjusted within range of the computer's control. If not the engine light will come on.

I you have a smog shop perform the adjustments needed just don't try and screw with it afterwards and it should be fine.

[1986scottsdale]

Ok thanks alot to everyone that replied to the post i really appreciate it. I am going to get it timed. As far as the gas cap goes should i buy a new for both since i have dual tanks?

[78 Chevyrado]

Originally Posted by 1986scottsdale

Ok thanks alot to everyone that replied to the post i really appreciate it. I am going to get it timed. As far as the gas cap goes should i buy a new for both since i have dual tanks?

I would, because it's pot-luck which tank they'll choose to test, if not both.

[iluvmy72]

I'm from Santa Maria....do yourself a favor and move away from that state!!!!

[gchemist]

A $15 vacuum gauge is your favorite friend for a carb. Read this on how to tune a carb. http://www.centuryperformance.com/tu...e-spg-148.html

Replace both gas caps. They need vent properly during use.

Look over the emission hose routing sticker. Check all the hoses. Replace any that are broken.

[lilpoindexter]

Don't get discouraged. Start with the basics.

[1LowToy]

Yes to both gas caps. One or both failed a preasure test. Read your smog report. Once fixed to run properly it may get better fuel milage, if you keep yur foot out of it.

[iluvmy72]

I hate your truck to....better give it to me!!!

[joe1982]

I know it can get frustrating, but hang in there. that looks like a very clean straight truck. Like sated above, some tuning here and there should help things out. Also, those wheels are nice, i would just get some new tires ad roll on from there

[johnnypop]

Don't get rid of it! My '78 just passed it's smog with flying colors... If you get some tuning done it should be just fine, just start with what is obvouisly wrong on the smog papers, then a good mechanic should be able to dial in the carb to pass and run well. Good luck! California smog laws suck, but it's not impossible to make it through testing. I have had to replace a cat and do some tuning in the past, but it's all worth it if you enjoy the truck.

[CaliDude76]

Originally Posted by iluvmy72

I'm from Santa Maria....do yourself a favor and move away from that state!!!!

TOUCHE!!!!!!!!

For the dude having trouble with the smog... be wary about the smog guys, because they'll try and tell you that it's going to be a bunch of "adjusting" to get it to pass (and you won't really need much to get it to pass), and they can smell the dollars when you drive in the smog shop with those Q-Jet m4me's. I had the same problem, and he really wouldn't tell me why it wouldn't pass. turns out it needed a new o2 sensor, and some tweaking of the air mixture screws. Try and time it yourself, and get you a vacuum gauge and get as much out of it at idle. i got like 21.

These days, they can only do "test only", and are spoiled with those in and out fuel injected cars, that they herd in and out like cattle. So they don't or won't really mess with what they know to be an easy adjustment, or fuel cap they have laying around they can replace for you to pass.

California does really stink when it comes to the smog situation for older carburated vehicles

BTW..... That is a cleeeaann truck you got there, "86Scottsdale"

[motornut]

For sure both caps,up here the caps are tested and done first.if it fails that , test is over unless you have one ,so i buy one before going. then return it if not needed
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