emissions and Esslinger 2277 cam/aluminum D-port

[CP86SVO]

Hi,

I just tried to get my SVO through emissions testing for the first time with the Esslinger aluminum D-port and 2277 cam.

Everything was OK except HC at idle; it was triple the limit (allowable 389 ppm, reading was 1089 ppm).

New Motorcraft plugs, wires, cap, rotor. Fresh Catalytic converter. New Redline oil/filter. No codes (other than knock sensor as usual). On the scope, no problems with the ignition;scope cylinder balance test was good. Cam timing set at zero. Fuel pressure 38 psi at idle with no vacuum.

I tried retarding the ignition timing, but to no avail. Removing the SPOUT connector did improve the readings, but it was totally undriveable (i.e. it would not have enough power to turn the dyno rollers in the driving part of the test).

I'm at a loss. Suggestions, please?

TIA WS

[CP86SVO]

Thanks for your response, Mike.

Oil was changed just before the test...

Using Mohawk ethanol enriched (10%) gas...

Stock PE computer and brown top injectors...

Had NGK iridium plugs for the test...changing to new Motorcraft made no difference...

Idle RPM limit is 1150 rpm for the idle test...I cannot raise the idle anymore than I have (1000 rpm), thanks to the 65 mm SN95 throttle body...

Oxygen sensor is less than 6 months old. It's a Bosch 5 wire through a Western Motorsports wideband. The WMS O2 kit has a wire that can simulate a narrow band O2 for the EEC IV.

so,

Should I reinstall the MSD 6A that I removed?
Should I try going back to the stock throttle body to raise the idle rpm a bit?
Should I put on the stock intercooler?
Should I lower the fuel pressure more?
Should I try to retard the cam timimg?

Any other suggestions or comments would be greatly appreciated!

TIA WS

[CP86SVO]

Thanks Mike,

I'm stupid. I've been screwing IN the air bypass screw trying to get the idle to higher...so UNscrewing the bypass screw should INcrease idle speed, correct?

How low can the fuel pressure go? Would 32 psi (vacuum disconnected) be too low?

The converter is only put on for emissions testing and street driving the little bit I do; it's removed when I go open tracking. It's a Magnaflow High Flow 3" cat. I'll check the converter efficiency.

Thanks! WS

[roller4v]

With all those mods do you have the correct vacumme signals in place to allow the smog pump to send fresh air to the catalytic converter and is the pump itself good?

From what I understand the cat needs a good supply of fresh air (oxygen) to enable it to complete the combustion of exhaust gasses.

Steve

[GAboySVO]

Our cars don't have smog pumps.

[bendutro]

What about turning the fuel pressure down a few psi in addition to above recommendations? Seems the low vacuum that the 2277 pulls at idle in addition to the stock ECU would create a very rich idle...

[SVOBart]

If the vaccum at idle is low, it would actually cause the fuel pressure to rise a little compared to the stock cam.

[under pressure]

That's a lot of work! I just run a small vacuum hose off the tree down to the transmission area so it can get a little more air.

[Eyelawdoc]

For all the trouble you are going to just swap out that Eslinger high RPM cam for something better suited to the smog test . Go back, pass the test and then put the Essy cam back in.

Problem solved!

[roller4v]

Our cars don't have smog pumps.

Well.. I actually thought about that and did a search for smog pump part numbers for a 85 and 86 turbo mustang and found it! So I assumed they had one.


I"ll learn
Steve

[NavySVO]

For all the trouble you are going to just swap out that Eslinger high RPM cam for something better suited to the smog test . Go back, pass the test and then put the Essy cam back in.

Problem solved!

Read my mind all along..........

[under pressure]

Mike will tell ya, "Never AssUME"! The prep test I do works every time, and is readjusted 15 min later. We all want clean fresh air! Rick

[CP86SVO]

I performed a catalytic converter efficiency test...with cat, it was 1098 ppm HC; without cat, it was 1450 ppm HC. Efficiency less tan 30%, so a new cat is in order.

For giggles, I plugged in my MSD 6A; the idle HC went up 100 ppm! So off came the MSD.

I raised the idle rpm to 1150 rpm (the highest allowed for the test). HC dropped just slightly.

Regapped the spark plugs to 0.035"...no difference.

Oxygen sensor test next.

More later.

WS

[bendutro]

Catalytic converter temperature is good to note as well. Radio shack sells a little infrared temperature probe that is really neat to use on parts like header primaries to see if certain cylinder's EGTs are different, or on tires after an AutoX session, to see if you need to adjust pressure or camber.

[CP86SVO]

at 1000 rpm,

CO was 0.64%
O2 was 2.5%
CO2 was 2.5%

above with cat.

TIA WS