I have a 96 F-150 XLT S/C 4x4, 351W, 4r100 trans, 3:55 gears. This truck was originally titled out of California and has been here in NC since 97 or 98. What are the things to check for to make sure that all the California emissions controls are out of this truck. Is it just the cat that controls everything or do they do things to the engines systems in addition to the cat. Any help would be great.

 

I don't beleive Ford put on speicial emmission things just for Cali in '96, I know in some years certain trucks in Cali had to have Mass-Air or the OBD-II computer.

Eventually Ford adapted all it's vehicle's to Cali's standards.

 

I'll check the electronics manual tonight when I get home to make certain, but I'm 99% sure that in 96 on under 8500# GVW trucks all the differences between CA and 49 state trucks are internal to the processor.

 

It might have an air/fuel ratio sensor in place of the front o2 sensor, i'm not sure what year they started that in CA. It's the same thing as an o2 sensor, its just more accurate and about 3x as expensive.

-Jon

 

I checked the shop manual and EVTM. The PCED is too much of a PITA to deal with. There's no indication of any wiring differences or of additional components for a CA version of the 351. I suspect that with MAF and OBD-II the 49 state version is pretty close. Some of the individual components may differ but they should all connect in the same way. As for differences in the processor...

 

Strange Ranger,

From everything I have seen I suspect you are correct. I have seen several things that indicate Ca emissions are dependant on processor code more than any other factor. I have never in found anything different physically on the newer vehicles that came from CA.

One of the EPA sites listed all vehicles and codes in the processor. CA only had a few calibrations, the rest of the country had a bunch of them.

 

Thanks for all your help fellas. I didnt know if it was anything huge or not and it doesnt sound like it. Thanks again.