2L Pinto vacuum system

EskyLife · 13-12-2022, 08:51 PM

Hi brains trust,

I've got a 2L pinto with 4spd manual in my Mk2 escort... When I picked it up, it was flagged that a mechanic had told the previous owner that the vacuum hoses were needed, so a lot (possibly all) have been removed.

The car runs fine so i'm guessing it's not a big deal, but is it something I should look at getting reconnected? If so, why?

I'm a real rookie when it comes to car maintenance, but keen to learn... My understanding is the vacuum system in there to manage emissions and how the engine behaves when cold/warm while managing the emissions. Is that right?

And one other thing, the crank case ventilation hose that runs from the oil filler to the air-cleaner is currently blocked by the seal on the air-cleaner (see photo), i'm guessing this is just a miss-match of air-cleaner size which is easily fixed... but is it an issue in the interim?

39ClevoUte · 14-12-2022, 11:50 AM

That hose lets fresh air into the engine to replace water vapour and blow by (acids, cardon and horrible stuff) out and into the inlet manifold to be burnt.
Make sure you allow this hose to breath fresh filtered air.
Then check that your PCV valve is correctly connected to the inlet manifold.

**Rallye Sport** · 14-12-2022, 06:47 PM

As 39ClevoUte has said its the crank breather, pcv and rocker cover breather are the important ones. Its definitely worth removing the crank case collector and pcv valve and soaking them in degreaser, they're normally pretty gummed up at this stage of the cars life.

The pollution control system isn't worth putting back on unless the cars being pitted and they may not even pick it being missing. The obvious one though is the christmas tree valve poking out of the thermostat housing. Replace it with one from a Mk3 Cortina, same thing but without the valve.

The pollution system is getting pretty hard to find nowadays, if you do need one try looking at Mk4 Cortina's they didn't seem to be hotrodded like the Escorts and usually still have the system still intact.

EskyLife · 14-12-2022, 08:47 PM

I dug around and found a whole lot of things that have been disconnected.

Interested to know if these photos make you laugh or cry.

If there are any there that you think are critical, please let me know... I tried to work out which bits are which on the schematic.

The two green points near the distributor in photo 7254 are the PVS on the coolant union (I think). And i'm pretty sure that's the emissions canister in photo 7251.

**Rallye Sport** · 15-12-2022, 09:12 PM

It makes me both laugh and cry... but thats how it was done in many a backyard.
Are you planning on replacing the system, or doing a better job of the delete? Heres a couple of suggestions.

Ok so 7254 is the coolant union, this can be deleted by replacing the hose or finding a moulded one from a Mk3 TC/D Cortina.

7255 looks like the carb return line, you want that one, it sends any excess fuel from the carb back to the tank, it should connect to the second pipe on the fuel sender, tank end.

7251 is the carbon canister, it'd be nice to have this one operating aswell. It collects vapours from the tank. If you remove the cover for the fuel spout in the boot there will be some tubing, it should lead up front to the canister. The canister ports are marked so it should be a matter of plumbing them back to their appropriate locations.

7572 the top one is the anti stall and should be plumbed to a manifold vacuum port, debatable whether you need it but if theres a spare port it won't hurt or affect performance. the lower one is part of the old emission system and isn't needed.

7253 is part of the emission system and is not needed if you are doing a delete. To tidy it up either remove the christmas tree and install a bung or replace with a Mk3 TC/D Cortina thermostat housing.

7256 would normally go to the valves on the standard air cleaner snorkel set up. If deleting keep it plugged remove it all together and tidy up with a new hose.