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By rmk57 - 16 Years Ago
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I'm trying to get my 57 to pass an emissions test in order to qualify for a collector plate. I was wondering if the canister for the road draft tube ever has to be serviced? Do they plug up and create more hydrocarbons?
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By Hoosier Hurricane - 16 Years Ago
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The hydrocarbon thing wasn't an issue back in the '50s, but there is a filter in that cannister that can get plugged. Replacements are still available. Where do they measure for hydrocarbons?
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By rmk57 - 16 Years Ago
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I wasn't sure what was inside the canister, but if there is a filter and it's plugged it could cause more tailpipe emissions. I'm not sure what you meant by where they check for hydrocarbons, but it's at the tailpipe with the sniffer,or in Vancouver where you have to pass an emissions test just one time to get a collector plate. Thing is my HC is over 2000 ppm while my CO is just .23%
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By oldcarmark - 16 Years Ago
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You might consider installing a PCV system and lose the roadraft tube.Meanwhile you can open the canister by unscrewing the bolt.Filter can be possibly cleaned in varsol or buy a new one at parts store.
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By Tom Compton - 16 Years Ago
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W/ high hydro carbon measurement, would leaning the carb just long enough to pass emission test help?
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By Ol'ford nut - 16 Years Ago
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Lean you carb all you can and set idle up. Make sure engine is completely warmed up. You don't care how it runs as long as it passes.
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By charliemccraney - 16 Years Ago
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Did they have emissions standards in 1957? It seems a bit extreme to me that the car has to pass but I guess the law is the law.
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By rmk57 - 16 Years Ago
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There probably weren't any emission standards in 1957 but the emissions they allow today for that year of car are quite generous,( 950 ppm of HC and 4.50 % of CO). My car had over 2000 ppm and .23% CO, which sounds like alot of unburnt fuel from cylinders misfiring ( bad ignition)or incorrect float adjustment, something along that line I think, I hope. Anyway I've put new plug wires, cap etc. along with a different carb (autolite 2100) retarded the timing a couple degrees and picked the idle up to 1000 rpm and I'll retest it tomorrow.
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By PF Arcand - 16 Years Ago
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John: Randy & I talked today by phone about his emissions problem. (my 57 was subject to the same test) I agreed that setting the idle up some might be a good idea. Up to 1050 RPM is aloud, but at that throttle level your into the power system of the carb, is that correct? Might that not be detrimental to the idle emissions readings?
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By John Mummert - 16 Years Ago
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Wow, even California doesn't test cars made before 1975 when cats were first installed. At one time we had to install PCV systems on all cars 1955 and newer. In the process nearly all the road draft tubes in Calif were destroyed. An unmolested one is about impossible to find here. That requirement was dropped about 20 years ago but a lot of 57 4bbl intakes were ruined also when the installed 2 big vacuum fittings in the port runners. I wonder where all that cast iron went when they drilled them on the engine I know that retarding the timing and raising the idle will help. Leaning the idle mixture will help lower HC but as I recall it raises some other emission, NOX?
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By PF Arcand - 16 Years Ago
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Yes, to lean a mixture can cause other emissions to rise. I've had two Honda Accords that both had one area of somewhat high emissions, which as I recall was NOX, while the other two readings were very good. Lean factory tuning was likely the cause.. However, Randy's 57 failed on HC at idle and NOX isn't included in an idle test. My car originally failed for the same reason & failed worse after having professional work done! With help from this site, I finally narrowed the main problem down to badly adjusted ( much to tight ) valves. After adjustments, the HC reading was improved by about 85 percent & it passed easily.
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By Carls56 - 16 Years Ago
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rmk57 (9/24/2009)
I wasn't sure what was inside the canister, but if there is a filter and it's plugged it could
cause more tailpipe emissions. I'm not sure what you meant by where they check for hydrocarbons, but it's at the tailpipe with the sniffer,or in Vancouver where you have to pass
an emissions test just one time to get a collector plate. Thing is my HC is over 2000 ppm while
my CO is just .23%
In general when looking at a HC failure is ,too much fuel not enough air.(rich)
Yours is really rich.
I would check and make sure the choke is all the way open,the air filter is clean(or change the oil in the filter),and the float level.
I see no way the road draft tube would increase HC and I would not add a pcv system until after you get it passed.
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By rmk57 - 16 Years Ago
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If a car had a high HC and high CO that would indicate a overly rich mixture, but complete combustion. My car has high HC and low CO which indicates a lean misfire or bad ignition maybe a carburetor problem,it's not getting complete combustion. Lots of raw fuel coming out the tailpipe.
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By Carls56 - 16 Years Ago
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rmk57 (9/26/2009)
If a car had a high HC and high CO that would indicate a overly rich mixture, but complete combustion. My car has high HC and low CO which indicates a lean misfire or bad ignition maybe acarburetor problem,it's not getting complete combustion. Lots of raw fuel coming out the tailpipe.
You are right,I apologize.Dang gravdyard shift .
Yes CO is too much fuel not enough air.
HC, is combustion did not take place.(Anything that can cause a misfire).
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By rmk57 - 16 Years Ago
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I passed my emissions test today . My HC was 413 ppm, down from over 2000 and my CO was 4.26 % which is still a little high but under the maximum of 4.61 %.
I had the timing retarded to 3 degrees BTC and the idle at 1100 rpm. I think I could get even better numbers by leaning the mixture screws another 1/4 to 1/2 turn.
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By oldcarmark - 16 Years Ago
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Good to hear it!Enjoy your car!
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