'85 Ranger Restomod

[ford4wd08]

Not at this point lol.

Years ago I did start that, I have the gutted DS housing and an aluminum baseplate for the HEI module.

I think the ballast resistor went bad. I deleted it for testing and it started much better but I think in doing so I cooked the DS module.

My EFI system has a coil driver included. I lock up my DS distributor and it basically just sends tach signal to the EFI. There is an included harness that plugs into the factory E coil on the fender. Then the EFI controls both fuel and timing. Not having to worry about interchangeability I can just put a weatherpack on the distributor harness and then the only connector in the ignition system is the harness plugging into the coil.

So I just need to focus on getting the EFI installed. I had planned on keeping the DS thinking my issues were all carb related. At this point carb or ignition issues... it won't matter anymore if I don't have either system.

I have mulled getting a cheap HEI dizzy and throwing in a box with the Edelbrock for spares if I keep doing long trips with the thing... but I would rather sell the Edelbrock and put that towards a spare ECM at this point.

I'm running the HEI with the duraspark distributor and TFI coil.

I know on the 2.8, but in 5 years (knock on wood) I've had no trouble with it.

I've debated EFI, but I'll be hard pressed to abandon the mechanical fuel pump because it just simply works.

My only intent for the EFI would be to increase MPG, but I can live with crap mileage as long as it is dependable, which so far it has proven to be.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I'm running the HEI with the duraspark distributor and TFI coil.

I know on the 2.8, but in 5 years (knock on wood) I've had no trouble with it.

I've debated EFI, but I'll be hard pressed to abandon the mechanical fuel pump because it just simply works.

My only intent for the EFI would be to increase MPG, but I can live with crap mileage as long as it is dependable, which so far it has proven to be.

Really for the last 15 years I have been happy with what I have. I have driven it farther from home every year beginning in 2019 than I have any of my daily drivers. Mileage is decent, close to 20mpg which loaded heavy for camping/offroading is far from terrible.

Elevation changes and off camber were the main drivers that inspired me to go to EFI. It will also bump the idle for the A/C and control the fuel pump and efans.

I don't have room for a mechanical pump, my current timing cover doesn't have provisions for one and if my A/C compressor wasn't in the way my steering box is also in the way lol.

My big hangup initially with having the EFI control the ignition was I didn't want to get stuck trying to track down a weird brand X distributor cap in 10 years. Then I discovered I could lock up the advance on the dizzy I have and still be able to use DS caps/rotors.

Then thinking I was gtg on ignition I thought I would just get the EFI working first, work any bugs out of that and then convert the ignition over.

Right now after researching it more and more... I think I am just going to do it all at once and be done with it. Its like four more wires and I already have a nearly new Motorcraft TFI coil.

Having the ignition controlled by the computer is the best so the computer isn't always trying to guess what the vacuum advance and whatever is going to be doing next.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

The last of the parts I think I will need showed up today:



Its been running beautifully, right now I kinda hate to take it apart lol.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I had big plans on prepping this thing while keeping it mobile to reduce down time but after looking into it more I can't really.

Fuel regulator will probably go where the coil is living currently so I can't really get the fuel lines in it.

I can't swap in the different heater hose fitting and get the temp sensors moved around because I need the spot currently occupied by the existing efan sensor and I don't want to drain it twice.

So aside from the doing the CEL thing and double checking the DS header connection it is going to be all at once.

The thing is still starting/running great, I had it out Sunday and it didn't miss a beat.

 

[Shran]

I think having easily accessible wear items in your ignition system is ideal... cap & rotor, coil, etc. My F250 came to me with an aftermarket MSD distributor that has timing controls and all sorts of shit built into it... no ignition module needed at all... just give it power, ground, and one wire to a round can coil. Easy but it bugs me very bad that it's SIX HUNDRED DOLLARS to have a spare... hopefully IF I ever need to replace the cap & rotor it's not an MSD proprietary part.

Keep us posted with the EFI conversion. I think you're right that it'll all need to be done at once. It seems like a big project but a lot of it is pretty much bolt on and connect some wires.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I think having easily accessible wear items in your ignition system is ideal... cap & rotor, coil, etc. My F250 came to me with an aftermarket MSD distributor that has timing controls and all sorts of shit built into it... no ignition module needed at all... just give it power, ground, and one wire to a round can coil. Easy but it bugs me very bad that it's SIX HUNDRED DOLLARS to have a spare... hopefully IF I ever need to replace the cap & rotor it's not an MSD proprietary part.

Keep us posted with the EFI conversion. I think you're right that it'll all need to be done at once. It seems like a big project but a lot of it is pretty much bolt on and connect some wires.

Yeah, I like having a hope of finding stuff on the road if I ever get back into road tripping this thing. I did find my Motorcraft e coil but the actual mounting bracket is still MIA. Aside from the dizzy advance being locked up it is all going to be regular replacement stuff.

Spare issue is something too, I hope they list spare ECM's at some point. It would be nice to carry a spare one of those rather than a carb and a HEI dizzy if things go south in the middle of nowhere.

 

[SenorNoob]

I hope they list spare ECM's at some point.

If they're as reliable as factory parts, I wouldn't worry about it...

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

If they're as reliable as factory parts, I wouldn't worry about it...

There is that... but I have sold a few new OEM PCM's in my day too.

 

[SenorNoob]

How many of those actually needed it and didn't expose the original to liquid or a welder?

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

How many of those actually needed it and didn't expose the original to liquid or a welder?

I don't think any of them. None of them had the PCM as a tiny thing mounted on the throttle body either.

Usually by the time people are swamping them and welding on them a dealer can't get a new PCM for it anyway.

When I was in heavy truck PCM's went bad even more often but they are cooled by engine coolant and are a whole different can of cats. They also get a lot more miles too.