Valve cover calibration decal?

[Kenobi77]

Hi all,

Had my 1986’s 2.9 rebuilt and the valve cover decals didn’t survive it. In the process of reproducing the calibration decal right now and I only got one decent picture of it before the engine was dropped off. I meant to clean the oil off and take another, but never got around to it.

Was wondering if anyone might be able to help me out with finding out what would have been under the oil I didn’t clean off? Can provide more information if needed.

Any pictures with the calibration decal would be appreciated, too, in order to figure out the complete shape.

Thanks!

 

[410Fortune]

Interesting!

Let’s see what we can find on the internet

Doing a full restoration? How’s it run?

 

[Kenobi77]

Interesting!

Let’s see what we can find on the internet

Doing a full restoration? How’s it run?

Yep, full restoration along with some mild improvements (Explorer radiator, headers from @Josh P, things like that and nothing wild) that would have been available during the period of the mid-‘80s to early ‘90s. I actually don’t know how it runs, lol, because I’ve been chasing issues and haven’t had a chance to start it up. Chief among them are some of the Fel-Pro gaskets I had my engine builder use which turned out to be pieces of ****.

I know there’s codes for the radiator support stickers in certain Ford shop manuals, but I don’t have the one they’d be in. I tried looking to see if valve cover codes would be in there but I haven’t found anything pointing either way to it. Was hoping someone here may know or have a lead, as reference on the internet seems to be nonexistent (at least from my searching).

I thought maybe there’d be pictures online of 2.9s with the decal visible if only to get the specific shape, but in the only one I’ve found, it’s all tattered up.

 

[Josh P]

I can't tell you the shape, every old Ford I've owned that sticker was long gone before I bought it. That oil buildup preserved it.

Calibration Codes

For the 1980 - 86 trucks Ford used a calibration code to specify the exact parts and settings needed to pass the appropriate emissions tests. For the 1981 - 86 trucks these were printed on...

www.garysgaragemahal.com

 

[410Fortune]

Could try looking on merkur forums those dudes love their 2.9s it was in a few cars

Felpro gaskets are typically the best wild your Builder had issues? Mahle also makes good 4.0 gaskets not sure about 2.9 we usually replace them w the bored and stroked distributor less ohv 4.0

 

[Kenobi77]

Could try looking on merkur forums those dudes love their 2.9s it was in a few cars

Felpro gaskets are typically the best wild your Builder had issues? Mahle also makes good 4.0 gaskets not sure about 2.9 we usually replace them w the bored and stroked distributor less ohv 4.0

Contacted Gary from GGM above and he gave me some good leads. You and I seem to have had the same thought. Going to try a few other forums including Merkur ones.

Yeah my builder and I were shocked, too. The rest are good, don’t get me wrong, but the lower intake manifold and head gaskets are just awful. Intake gasket is an extremely poor design that lead to premature failure and the head gaskets aren’t any better. Everything else checks out.

I did some digging and discovered that Mahle/Victor Reinz made the intake/head gaskets for Ford back in the day and ordered those. Intake is proper, obviously, and the head gaskets feel better in every way. Deep diving showed me I’m not the only one to have issues with FP for the 2.9.

For ***** and giggles, google the Mahle intake gasket and compare it to FP.

 

[Josh P]

While checking out the Merkur sites, lust over that upper intake. The valve covers on my Scorpio do not have the calibration sticker any longer.