Hello people !

Hi everybody, I would like to introduce myself, mi name is Jose, and a I own a f150 1981 truck left by my dad (see the pic). Iam very happy I found this forum and website to share comments and info about old ford trucks. I have to say Im not a mechanic  but my son Mike likes a lot his grandpa's truck  so I need to grasp some knowledge about it not to dissapoint him.



One of the main concerns about my old truck is to know how to adjust the carburator, it is a motorcraft 1250 two barrel carb, also I would like to know the mods (low budget ones) that can be done on it in order to enhance the performance of the old 302 engine. I appreciate the member of the forum from any info and guidance that could help me.

Thanks !

Jose - Welcome!    Glad you found us.

Where are you located?  Perhaps someone on here is close to you?

As for the 2150 carb, you can find info on it here: Fuel Systems/Carburetors, Chokes, & EFI/Motorcraft 2150.  The 2150 is a pretty simple carb and is about as easy as they come to rebuild, but you said "adjust".  What adjustment do you think it needs?

For enhancing the performance of the 302, there isn't much to do beyond a good tuneup.  However, can you show us a picture of the engine and, especially, the distributor and ignition module on the driver's fender?  That will let us ensure we know what ignition system you have.  (A 1981 should have the blue-grommet ignition module and a distributor with a vacuum advance, but let's make sure.)

That is a beautiful truck! Your dad must have taken good care of it.

Looks like you may already have dual exhaust. I have not seen side pipes like that for a long time.

I don't think there is much you can do outside of idle speed and choke adjustments on that 2150 carb. They were sealed at the factory if I recall correctly and if they are running well, they are best left alone.

A 4bbl carb and manifold would help wake up that 302. Won't turn it into a monster, but choices are plentiful.

That truck looks really clean and straight. I like it.

I'd start with replacing the fuel filter, plugs & wires, cap & rotor button, and then see if you can borrow a timing light from somebody to get that checked (and adjusted if required).

Very nice truck. Welcome to the forum!

Hi Gary,

Im located at the city of Culiacan, state of Sinaloa, Mexico, bit far from your place . A place where ford truck have gained tribute from many followers i have to say.

I forgot to mention my truck has electronic ignition system (distributor w/no advance valve and e-module). As mentioned my main concern is the carb performance. These are some pics I took this morning so you can inspect connections etc.









First of all, I know choke is not functioning or connected, secondly it seems that there is a exhaust pipe going to the carb rear, is it okay ?

thanks guys !

Thanks a lot for your comments, yeap my dad took good care of it last 5 years before he was asked to join heaven.

Im afraid side pipes are not connected they are just decoraction, there is a small muffler instead. Do they they have any effect on engine performance?

I purchased the carb brand new 4 years ago, I thought it was a motorcraft now you can tell with the pics I have upload.



Thanks again !

Hi Rembrant,

I already have installed new plug wires, an electronic ignition system, fuel filter and carb are fairly new (4 years).

The person that installed and tuned up the carb regards himself as a carb specialist...uhhm, when choke wasnt even installed...

Im sure that with some help from you guys I could be able to tune up the carb properly as it should, including the choke either electric or automatic.

Greetings !

Thanks !,

I hope to get the most out of this forum.

By the way I took the photo of the truck right after washed and waxed, it is not always that clean

Greetings,

Jose - I thought you were "south of the border", just from the picture of your truck.  The setting just looked like it might be Mexico or even Nicaragua, where my daughter lives.

Anyway, let's start on diagnosing your truck.  Here's your first engine pic, and from it I can tell that things aren't as I would have expected them to be.  First, the A/C compressor is a later style than a 1981 US truck would have had.  Second, while I can't be sure, it looks like you have the EEC-III ignition system.  I could confirm that if you took a shot where the red arrow is pointing so we can see the front of the distributor.  Also, if you took a pick of the ignition module, and especially the grommet through which the wires pass when going into it.




Next, on to the choke.  As the yellow letters say, the metal tube should go to the exhaust manifold.  And, from the exhaust manifold there should be another tube that goes to the fitting shown by the red circle.  What happens is there is a vacuum at that port with the red circle and it is supposed to draw clean air from the air cleaner, down through a passage in the exhaust manifold where it heats up, and then into the choke housing.  That tells the choke spring if the engine is hot or cold and it can adjust the choke accordingly.

But you don't have anything hooked up, and are probably drawing dirty cold air into that port, telling the choke that the engine is cold.  So, if you adjust the choke to where it closes it'll never come off.  All of that is better explained here: http://www.garysgaragemahal.com/chokes.html.

But your choke cap has an electrical connection (green circle) that may work for you.  That carb is probably a hot-air with electric assist model, but sometimes they will work ok on just the electric portion.  There's a terminal on the alternator called "S", which is short for stator.  You can run a wire from the S terminal on the alternator to the terminal on the choke and see if it will heat up enough when the engine is running to pull the choke off.





There are lots of other things we can discuss, but let's stick to figuring out what ignition system you have via the pictures, and fixing the choke.  Then we can move on once we know what we are working with.

Hi Gary,  yes Im in México holding on and incredible warm weather here .

These are the photos of distributor and module:






About the choke, I would like to thank you a lot for the info, links etc. I carefully read them all, now I finally know my choke is an electric assisted one, and how it operates. Sadly I found out that the metal tube that comes out of the exhaust is broken, so I will have to find something to repair this before undertake the choke system adjustments:




Hope to read your comments about, have a nice weekend !

Something like this:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Dorman-Carburetor-Choke-Tube-Repair-Kit-Replace-Broken-or-Burnt-Tubes-/142618838109

or this:

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/rnb-76850?seid=srese2&cm_mmc=pla-msn-_-shopping-_-srese2-_-dorman&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Bing+Shopping+Ads&utm_term=4581321356722260&utm_content=Dorman

will repair the missing choke heating tube.

Jose - You have the dreaded computer-controlled ignition system.  And I'll bet that it is upset with all the things that are disconnected on your truck.  What happens is that the computer gets its knickers in a twist and locks the ignition timing at 10 degrees BTDC.  That kills power and economy.

The way around it is to replace the distributor, coil, and ignition box with a DS-II setup.  And, you will need the DS-II wiring harness.  I don't have a write-up on this site, but there's one on FTE: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1012000-duraspark-ii-conversion-how-to.html.

As for the choke, the second link David/1986F150Six provided may be the closest to what you need to get the hot-air part of it working.  But, if where you live doesn't get very cold you may not need that.  I'd hook up the stator wire from the alternator as previously discussed and see if that works for you.  If not, then look into the the hot air.

Hi Gary, yes I will look after to the new hardware you mentioned, check prices etc.

Regarding the choke, you got it all right, it may not be neccesary to hook the choke to the exhaust, just to the stator wire, that is something I can do.

Thanks a lot for links and info !

Also find this link: http://www.fordification.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=66144

On how to replace choke metal tube, very well explained and ilustrated.

You are most welcome!

Hi Gary,

Could you help me to find an online store (the link to the single  DS-II set-up and/or individual components) so i can get all the duraspark-ii set up from ?, of course, Iam willing to compensate your time for this service.

I dared to ask you for this service becouse I could mistakenly choose something grown raising the money i will invest on it.

Hope the read your comments and info, thanks.

Jose - You don't need to compensate me.  I'm happy to help you.  That's what this forum is all about.  Let me do some thinking about what you need.  But I do know that the wiring harness is pretty expensive if you have to buy a new one, so maybe someone on here knows of one?

I may have an extra blue-grommet DS-II module that I could let go cheaply.  Then there is the distributor, and a coil.  

Again, I'll do some checking and get back with you.

Jose - I've started a new thread for you in the main section of the forum, here: DS-II For Jose.  That's really the place to be discussing things like this as it will get more people's input.

Anyway, take a look and see what you think.  

Thanks Gary, I'll follow the new thread  !