Explorer EFI into a first gen

[85_Ranger4x4]

Mulling going to the Explorer EFI setup, interested in what works for air cleaners. Preferably a OE style box not just an open element.

Also did you use OE style electronics, megasquirt or?

 

[JoshT]

That was what I was going to do before I did the swap on my 99. I did everything except for actually putting it back together.

My plan was to use the explorer electronics, and whittle the EFI system down to work as standalone. Not that difficult, I just never got to the point of testing it. Never paid to much attention to the air box, was probably going come filter.

Having said all that, I probably wouldn't go that route in your position. The big plus to going with explorer is that it controls the 4R70W and the parts are included with purchase of a donor. You've got the swap completed and don't need an engine donor, and you're using a manual transmission.

I don't know what engine you used as the basis of your swap, but if it wasn't the Explorer you've got a lot of things to change to make that system work. For starters you need the Explorer crank pulley, which is made for a 50oz balanced engine, so if yours is 28oz it is strike one. You'll need the Explorer timing cover to mount the crank sensor, along with the rest of the accessory drive to make it all work together. Essentially, if you don't have an explorer engine already, you're doing the swap again.

In your position I'd look to doing a Mustang AL9 based EFI conversion, or going with one of the assorted aftermarket EFI systems.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

That was what I was going to do before I did the swap on my 99. I did everything except for actually putting it back together.

My plan was to use the explorer electronics, and whittle the EFI system down to work as standalone. Not that difficult, I just never got to the point of testing it. Never paid to much attention to the air box, was probably going come filter.

Having said all that, I probably wouldn't go that route in your position. The big plus to going with explorer is that it controls the 4R70W and the parts are included with purchase of a donor. You've got the swap completed and don't need an engine donor, and you're using a manual transmission.

I don't know what engine you used as the basis of your swap, but if it wasn't the Explorer you've got a lot of things to change to make that system work. For starters you need the Explorer crank pulley, which is made for a 50oz balanced engine, so if yours is 28oz it is strike one. You'll need the Explorer timing cover to mount the crank sensor, along with the rest of the accessory drive to make it all work together. Essentially, if you don't have an explorer engine already, you're doing the swap again.

In your position I'd look to doing a Mustang AL9 based EFI conversion, or going with one of the assorted aftermarket EFI systems.

Engine is a complete hodge podge but does have the Explorer pulley/front drive.

I really only have the Explorer intakes, if I cant get something figured out there really nothing else matters.

The Explorer intake puts the air cleaner where my battery is... which is less than ideal.

I played with it last time I had the intake off, not really a ton of room to work with.

 

[JoshT]

I was planning to relocate the battery box to the other side, but I was also a lot deeper into modifying that truck than you're doing.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

If I could get something like a 4.0 airbox to line up and if it flowed enough to feed a 5.0 I think it might work with my planed electrical system upgrades (all my added electrical stuff is under that plastic cover on the PS fender.

 

[Curious Hound]

If I could get something like a 4.0 airbox to line up and if it flowed enough to feed a 5.0 I think it might work with my planed electrical system upgrades (all my added electrical stuff is under that plastic cover on the PS fender.

Just route the intake over and through the fender and mount the filter inside the snorkel mast that you need. If you use this one, it also comes with a radar antenna on top. This should get you through most small Kentucky rivers.

 

[fastpakr]

If I could get something like a 4.0 airbox to line up and if it flowed enough to feed a 5.0 I think it might work with my planed electrical system upgrades (all my added electrical stuff is under that plastic cover on the PS fender.

For what it's worth, my recollection is that the 99 3.0 and 99 explorer 5.0 used the same filter. Just different air boxes between the explorer and ranger which introduced unnecessary complications.

 

[Shran]

So my first question is, why go that route instead of a FiTech/Sniper/Affordable EFI/etc? Just seems like a lot more fiddling is required to use stock parts which equals more time.

If you can round up a Mustang or Crown Vic/Grand Marquis upper & lower intake, you can put the throttle body on either side. The upper intake can be flipped either way. I've got mine on the driver's side and am really happy with where everything landed.

 

[racsan]

youd not have that cool round air cleaner cover either.

 

[don4331]

With 3D printing these days, you can have just about anything you can dream up.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Just route the intake over and through the fender and mount the filter inside the snorkel mast that you need. If you use this one, it also comes with a radar antenna on top. This should get you through most small Kentucky rivers.
View attachment 120117

I'm afraid my intake would just get full of tree branches and bird nests with that thing...

I am trying to address elevation changes more than anything. Although an airbox on that side would play into a snorkel...

I think I figured out how to make a snorkel work with what I have too though.

So my first question is, why go that route instead of a FiTech/Sniper/Affordable EFI/etc? Just seems like a lot more fiddling is required to use stock parts which equals more time.

Oh trust me, they would be the preference. So far they are proving rather elusive to get worked into the budget. Downsides is they can take some fiddling and if you need parts on the road... you are stuck until parts get shipped to you.

OE stuff lays down and the local parts store will have injectors, fuel pumps etc.

If you can round up a Mustang or Crown Vic/Grand Marquis upper & lower intake, you can put the throttle body on either side. The upper intake can be flipped either way. I've got mine on the driver's side and am really happy with where everything landed.

I actually still have the original one that came on my engine. I don't remember what it has for a fuel rail but in theory that should be there as well as injectors. I think I even hung onto the dizzy.

My power steering pump is roughly where your alternator is but it almost sits over the valve cover, the Explorer belt drive pushes everything quite a bit farther back. I have A/C lines travelling thru there too. But I have a decent sized hole where a OE airbox would be on the other side probably because most of my stuff is built to dance around it in their original host vehicles.

youd not have that cool round air cleaner cover either.

Oh I know... and that is a beyond huge reason that is holding me back.

Logistics is kind of a bugger too. Going Johnny Cash and snagging it all one piece at a time is more feasible than a aftermarket EFI kit but there is a lot of I don't have. And I would need a tune too which I forsee being a PITA. And then when I get a new engine there is another tune.

With 3D printing these days, you can have just about anything you can dream up.

I don't think so in this case.

 

[JoshT]

Few more thoughts...

If you can find the part numbers to cross reference, many of the Holley sensors and stuff are available locally as OEM parts. The IACV is the only part ofy Sniper I've had issue with, it is an off the shelf part. Granted it only has several hundred miles since install in 2018 and I have to look up part info.

If you choose to tackle MS, practically any sensor can be used as long as it is set up right in the system. You can easily use readily available late model sensors.

Nothing special about the fuel pumps in any of these systems. You can run them off of factory in tank fuel pumps.

 

[Shran]

Keep your eyes open on Marketplace/craigslist/etc for an aftermarket EFI setup. There was a brand new FiTech listed locally for 650... you could even probably pick up the old Holley Pro-Jection for almost nothing, those would work great on a stockish engine.

I'm just not sure the wheel is worth reinventing since you've got your front drive setup working well, air filter located correctly and it looks really nice. You can keep all that and have a new harness that fits right off the bat... that is one of the things that pisses me off about my V8 swap, the Crown Vic engine harness doesn't fit in a Ranger very well.

Fuel pump is easy, I'm assuming your tank has the big sending unit hole so you can get a sending unit from an 86-88 and a pump from 89+...done.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Few more thoughts...

If you can find the part numbers to cross reference, many of the Holley sensors and stuff are available locally as OEM parts. The IACV is the only part ofy Sniper I've had issue with, it is an off the shelf part. Granted it only has several hundred miles since install in 2018 and I have to look up part info.

If you choose to tackle MS, practically any sensor can be used as long as it is set up right in the system. You can easily use readily available late model sensors.

Nothing special about the fuel pumps in any of these systems. You can run them off of factory in tank fuel pumps.

When I checked into it awhile ago it seemed the aftermarket setups were wanting more fuel pressure than the "high pressure" pump for a Ranger would put out.

Keep your eyes open on Marketplace/craigslist/etc for an aftermarket EFI setup. There was a brand new FiTech listed locally for 650... you could even probably pick up the old Holley Pro-Jection for almost nothing, those would work great on a stockish engine.

I'm just not sure the wheel is worth reinventing since you've got your front drive setup working well, air filter located correctly and it looks really nice. You can keep all that and have a new harness that fits right off the bat... that is one of the things that pisses me off about my V8 swap, the Crown Vic engine harness doesn't fit in a Ranger very well.

Fuel pump is easy, I'm assuming your tank has the big sending unit hole so you can get a sending unit from an 86-88 and a pump from 89+...done.

So far all the used ones I see are like $50 off or missing large components. TB with no harness or vice versa.

I didn't realize the Pro-Jection was that old. While it wouldn't have the efan controls and A/C idle kick up like a Sniper... it would be a period correct thing.

Whip Your Fuel System Into Shape With Holley’s New Pro-jection TBI

199r9777-6rev2.pdf

There is a nice one listed here for $500...

'85 was the first year for the big inlet in the fuel tank so I am only limited by my fuel gauge for what will work there. I would need a new feed line and I would have to add a return no matter what I do.

 

[JoshT]

IIRC most of them are set for around 65 psi default, but that can be changed. The important thing is that the actual fuel pressure and the expected fuel pressure match. Also ensuring that you have injectors that flow enough at system pressure. For most later model stock 5.0Ls Ford deemed 19lb @ system pressure to be enough.

IE Ford used an injector rated for 19lh/hr at ~45 PSI (IIRC again) for the Mustangs and earlier 5.0 explorers. The later explorers technically used a smaller injector, but since they upped the system pressure to ~65 those still flowed about the same.

I figure you would probably have to swap in a different tank/sender anyway. Not difficult to upgrade the pump while you're in there.