4.9 6 cyl. vacuum and timing help

[BDuke]

I was refered here by one of your members, and told that alot of you guys love your 4.9's as much as I do.

Here's my problem(s):

My Dad has an 84 F150 that we used for hunting when I was growing up. He's reached the age (and couple of strokes) where he can't work on the truck himself, and I'm trying to help him with it.

The truck stopped running, so he had it towed to a local garage. The "mechanic" removed all the vacuum hoses from the engine and 3 months later returned it to him with all the hoses in a box, and a "I'm sorry I cant fix it". I've managed to get all the hoses back on with one exception. This is a 84, 4.9, 300 cid, inline 6, 4x4, 4 speed manual, and what appears to be the TFI-IV ignition system. It has a ported carb, and for the love of me I can't find anywhere to hook that vacuum line to. Any pictures would be great.

I've capped that port and the truck will start, but is very rough at idle. We were able to check the timing and it's off. This leads to my second question, how do I change the timing on this thing? The manual says that there is a way to adjust it, but it just doesn't say how. I don't see a way to turn the ditributor to adjust the timing.

Thank you for your time and wisdom,

Bryan

 

[Seabronc]

By ported carb, are you talking about the vacuum connection on the top left side? Posting a picture would be good. If that is the case, then where is your distributor vacuum advance hooked to. The timing procedure is posted on the emissions sticker on the radiator support. To move the distributor for timing, there is a locking bolt at the base to loosen. Hook your timing light on the #1 cylinder plug wire. Also, there is a vacuum diagram for your truck located on the emissions sticker. It is laid out just as engine isand color coded. Each color represents a vacuum function.

Good luck,

 

[BDuke]

By ported carb, are you talking about the vacuum connection on the top left side? Posting a picture would be good. If that is the case, then where is your distributor vacuum advance hooked to. The timing procedure is posted on the emissions sticker on the radiator support. To move the distributor for timing, there is a locking bolt at the base to loosen. Hook your timing light on the #1 cylinder plug wire. Also, there is a vacuum diagram for your truck located on the emissions sticker. It is laid out just as engine isand color coded. Each color represents a vacuum function.
Good luck,

Thanks SeaBronc,

Yes, it is the port on the top left side. I'm not close to the truck right now, so I can't get a picture for you, however it sounds like you know exactly what I'm talking about. Where does that vac line go? Any idea where I can find the color code legend for the vacs?

I'll check again formthe locking bolt at the base of the distributor.

Thanks again for your time,

BDuke

 

[Seabronc]

Thanks SeaBronc,
Yes, it is the port on the top left side. I'm not close to the truck right now, so I can't get a picture for you, however it sounds like you know exactly what I'm talking about. Where does that vac line go? Any idea where I can find the color code legend for the vacs?

I'll check again formthe locking bolt at the base of the distributor.

Thanks again for your time,

BDuke

That port is normally used for vacuum advance of the distributor.

Color codes

Red = things operated by main vacuum

yellow = vacuum advance

green = EGR

orange = heat control valve (there are two, one on the exhaust manifold and one on the intake manifold). This does the old heat riser function.

blue = throttle kicker ( if you have one)

pink = thermactor control valves (control of air inject to intake manifold and CAT)

black = evaportive emissions components (also sometimes misic stuff)

Here is an example but not the one for your truck.

Good luck,