Hi Everyone,

         I was wondering if anyone could offer some insight into a
problem I am having with my 1986 F250 W/7.5 450. The engine may be from
a 1974.

        I keep my F250 on my wildlife reserve during the summer. I
kept it up on my driveway but one day I came down to connect to connect
the coil wire up to start it and when I popped the hood open there was
a groundhog in it starring me dead in the eyes. After 50 pokes with a
stick it finally took off. The groundhog ate my K&N air filter so I
replaced it. I then went for a drive to get some mulch. I then parked
the truck about 1200 feet away under a pavalion. I went to start it two
weeks later and it wouldnt start. I sprayed some ether into the carb
and before I got out of the engine bay I noticed there was gas all over
the engine. A groundhog had come in and ate through the gas lines. Two
weeks later while replacing the gas line I noticed that all my spark
plug wires were bitten through. Not chewed up, but just one bite each
to cut them off. In any event I went to get new plug wires and found
that my distributor had a different type of connector. The new plugs
connected to raised posts, while my old plugs slide down into the
distributor cap. So I went and got a new cap and rotor and they were
about 25% bigger than what I had. I went back again to the auto parts
store with my original cap and rotor in hand and a guy said to try one
for a 74. They were a match.

         I went back and changed out the rotor, the cap, and the plugs
but the book I had was for a 1986 F250 and who knows what engine I
have. I used the firing order and cylinder layout from the book that I
had. I couldnt tell where each plug wire went too because the wire was
chewed. Now when I start it it starts ok but I can hear misfires out of
my exhaust if I try to drive. When the engine is cold it kinda loobs
unless I give it some gas. If I have the car in park and floor it the
engine revs fine. As soon as I put it in drive and try to drive up a
hill it backfires and dies. I can run low speed over my pastures with a
little "pop" noise coming out of my exhaust every few seconds.

        Any ideas? Think it's just one cylinder not firing? I tossed
my old cap and rotor so I cant stick them back on. Anyone know how to
tell what year this engine is? There's no code on the cylinder
covers...

Thanks,

Sam