Early smog questions

I'm after some diagrams of the early smog systems that came on the 69-72 model years. I especially need any info I can get on the difference between California cars and 49-state cars AND if there were any differences between autos and manuals. Does anyone know of a good source for this info? TIA!

Sam

Well, biggest thing I had found was don't mess with whatever is under your hood. I have bought several California cars now, and zero of them match what the official Ford manual indicates is correct for the auto. The manuals seem to be pointed towards the 49 states, but have a couple of chapters like on some generic air pump. Not how to fix it, just that is can't according to the Dearborn writters.

However, the smog check places seem to know all what is required. It may be better to contact one of your local (former) gas stations, or one of the A.R.B. Referee stations to get a copy of some of their paperwork. The A.R.B. stations are sort of secretive, in that they do not want you to visit them w/o an appointment. No matter. But, their information is well documented for each model with each sort of engine/trans and have noted acceptable replacement parts.

Wm.

Well, that's one of the problems. I'm a looong way from California and I'm trying to restore the cars to showroom condition. None have all of the original equipment so I'm not sure what is missing and what isn't.

Back when I yanked the Cobra Jet engine out of my 1970, I damaged one of the air maifolds. Just couldn't be removed which still down there in the engine hole. Some local firm was making replacements at $1200 the pair. Before even finding the price, I showed them the bent one.

"Well ours, are not exactly the same. Looks as if you have an original. We don't gauarantee ours to represent originals" (No sale)

Such was the responce. This placed some doubt as to if I had to change out a few more things in order to make the emissions test for that year. Such was most all of the replacement parts I saw after that also. A good 10-15 years ago, not much looked like the original equipment did. I geserally keep anything which comes off the car, so it can be replaced in kind years later.

I ahve friends arond here with still original California air equipment on board and operating. It don't look pleasant, but the inspectors approve it. You need to be a bit more specific as to what engine trans combo you have. If you have a non-automatic trans, locating the correct distributor may be the hardest item. For a while they were offering some distributors with a whole bunch of rubber hoses, and claiming to be OK, but not original looking.

Wm.

1969 M-code, auto
1970 M-code 351C, manual
1971 M-code 351C, auto
1972 H-code, manual

Not sure if the tranny combo is original on any of them. Diffs are not original and data plates are missing. All 4 are basketcases so I'm more interested in finding a good source for documentation. I'm currently buying the factory shop manuals but I'm not sure if that will provide all the info I need. I have never seen a separate emissions diagram like the wiring diagrams you can buy.

The factory shop manuals will tell you the prefix, suffix or some abbreviation as to what distributor was intended to be used with the engine/trans combo. However, if there were problems with the auto in the early 1980's, that distributor may have been yanked out, and some smog OK one screwed in. It gives poorer gas mileage and performance but is legal. In the late 1970's California also required a retro-fit box be installed before testing and approval on all engines, and in many instances they required a Dist. replacement, for there were only certain tested and legal numbers in the Sacramento computer. In the late 1990's this progam got obsoleted, and it was OK then to use original equipment, except for when the title was transfered. There were just too few of the older vehicles then on the road, and one certain old car engine combo took up as much space as a newer more popular vehicle.

I found diagrams for complete Ford line circa 1970 at a swap meet for $1. None of which match my vehicles, and I did not fiddle with anything under the hood either. Apparently they were printed up in 1969, thought to be OK for 1970, but not really approved or used. There was a supplement issued to dealers in the Shop Talk magazine which contradicted the $1 diagrams.


Wm.

Wm.