Emissions Headache

[Gardener]

I've got a '72 F250, 360 / C6. My truck actually runs awesome, smooth, quite and straight. But passing emissions is a bitch. the COs are high, by 3-4 points. Any ideas I could try to getting it to pass?
Thanks a million!

My F250 copy.png

[1972hiboy]

What state / county is making you emission test your 72?

CO is Carbon Monoxide and usually indicates a rich running condition or, indicates unburnt fuel particles in the exhaust. Lots of possibilities, tune up, intake air restriction, carb adjustments, restricted air filter, skys almost the limit on possibilities,

[Roscoe Clyde]

Could not imagine trying to pass emmissions. Years ago I had a 84 F150 that had to pass and I would end up cleaning out the carb and cleaning up all of the plugs every year. Then I run some Seafoam through it a day before. That was the only way it would pass.

Roscoe Clyde

[Twisted_Steel]

Yeah.. what 1972 hiboy said... What state requires an emissions test on a 47 year old vehicle?
I'm guessing the land of fruits and nuts!

[Ohiotinkerer]

Emissions testing a 1972 model truck.........there's really something wrong with certain parts of the country.....

My suggestion would be move......less hassles in the long run.......but since that's probably not an option make sure it's perfectly tuned and try what Rosco Clyde said.......there's no exceptions at all because of its age?

[sparky72]

Wow, even here in CA, the 163,000 square mile mental hospital, I don’t have to smog my 72.

Wish I had more helpful advice. But your truck really is beautiful!

[Gardener]

Yeah, it does suck. Here in arizona the cutoff for emissions is 1966! I battle this **** every year. I rekon I'm going to have to lean the crap outta it. Once it passes, this will be the last. I'm selling this truck and getting a '64-'66.
Thanks for the suggestions. We'll see what happens.

[ddcrim]

When we had ET here, we would lean it out , set the idle up so it would still run and retard the spark.
Worked on the old motorcycles . Advance and set the Carb. as soon as possible so the motor
wouldn't burn up.

[m9452p]

Nevada had emission requirements also. My 70 F250 wouldn't pass either. The emission tech sent me across the street to a tune-up place, they leaned it out with their expertise till it was almost not running. Drove it back over, it passed, took it back and tune-up guys adjusted the carb and timing.

[rabbithunter2005]

I don't have to worry about emissions here in pa but I also got out of worrying about inspection on my 69 f100 by getting an antique plate. I don't know if your state offers that or what the rules are but I have a one time registration fee not the yearly fee that everyone else pays. And I don't have to have any inspection anymore. Now that comes with rules about how often I drive the truck something like once a week and I can't haul anything with it but from what I have seen so far they don't enforce those rules here. Its something I would definitely try to look into.

[Jacksdad]

I always run the tank low and throw two or three bottles of Iso-Heet in before I smog my stuff. The alcohol supposedly cleans up the HCs.