Explorer 5.0 ECU and mods


Teddyzee

Teddyzee

December 2011 STOTM Winner

MTOTM Winner
V8 Engine Swap
Joined
Nov 12, 2008
Messages
1,347
Points
3,101
City
Nova Scotia Canada
Vehicle Year
1997
Transmission
Manual
How well does the Explorer ECU handle minor mods?

Specifically, b303 and 1.7 roller rockers.

I'm looking to make a new new harness, nice and short and clean, I have a second Mustang one here to use. But I also have a complete 1996 Explorer 5.0 harness and ECU. (..and coil packs, distributor piece, etc.) It has no PATS, if it did, I would use it for sure.

What issues would I have if I swap to the Ex stuff? Would it run okay?
I'm not concerned about the CEL, but truck currently has no EGR, no cats, T5 manual trans,etc. just worried about driveability.

I browsed around explorerforums, but it's tough to find the good stuff as a newb.

Any tips or pitfalls? I'd like to run it without a tune for now...

Anyone have a '96 Explorer EVTM? I'll want to check the pin outs from ECU to 42pin connector.
 
Last edited:
FRPP specifically recommends against using any of its alphabet cams for the Explorer 5.0 because the factory PCM calibration can't handle them. A dyno tune should be able to fix that though.
 
Cool. I'll check around to see if anyone near me can tune it, or if i'd have to learn to do it myself.

But I'm sure someone has just gone ahead and swapped a cam, I'll have to keep searching.
 
A guy on R-F has been going through hell with his 5.0 swap. He has a B303, 1.6 RR and a mild port cleanup on the GT40-P's. He also has a lot of idle and trouble code issues, although I couldn't say for sure that it is cause and effect.
 
I know from other sites that it was said due to the small LSA of the Alphabet cams, Explorer likes a min of 114 degrees. Truth or no? Think it was BrianB and Tmosko at RPS brought it to FRPP attention.
Dave
 
Teddy, I can tell you the exp harness is plug and play, and you will need to get an SCT tuner to delete the programing for the auto trans, and the tuner will also allow you to mod the motor...
SVT
 
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