Reply to "Vacuum Diagram anyone?"

Adams,

The '74 Pantera has 5 emissions systems:

1. Positive crankcase ventillation
2. Evaporative emissions control
3. Heated air controls
4. Distributor controls (spark timing)
5. Exhaust gas recirculation

I am assuming systems 1 & 2 are not an issue. System 3 is self contained within the air filter assembly, so I assume it is not an issue either. That leaves us with systems 4 & 5. System 4 is Pantera specific, it would do no good to post pictures from a Chilton manual or a Ford repair manual, because they would be different. System 5 is generic Ford, circa 1973. However, 1973 was the first year Ford began issuing a separate repair manual for emissions systems, up to that point, emissions systems had always been covered in the engine manuals. As luck would have it, I have given my '73 & '74 emissions manuals away years ago, because those cars are exempt from emissions testing in the Green State (California).

I have found a pretty good diagram detailing the vacuum hose plumbing, plus a schematic of the distributor controls. Those I shall post. Finally, I modified the distributor controls schematic to detail my suggestion for clandestine emissions intervention and shall post that as well.

To sum up, the brake booster will remain connected to the intake. The PCV valve shall also remain functional. The last connection shall be ported vacuum (side nipple on the carby) connected to the outer diaphragm of the vacuum advance/retard mechanism on the distributor. All other vacuum hoses should be plugged or disabled. My suggestion is to install small bearings acquired from a bicycle shop or an old bicycle, sized so that they fit very snugly inside the various hoses.

The idle solenoid shall be disabled by disconnecting it from its voltage source. You shall then need to set the idle speed of the motor the good ol' fashioned way, with the idle stop screw. Finally I suggest you optimize the ignition advance at idle following the instructions I have provided on this forum several times in the past.

Many emissions motors from this era (1970's) actually ran worse when the EGR system was disabled, however I have never found this to be the case with the '73 & '74 351C Cobra Jets, they run just fine with the EGR valves unplugged.

cowboy from hell