302 Swap, Which Harness?

[Diggerauditor]

My question is, does the car ECM manage the engine differently than a truck ECM. I can get either harness, just didn't know if there was a difference.

 

[RangerSVT]

What year ranger is it going in, and what year car or truck you looking at getting a harness from?

SVT

 

[projectnitemare]

It's going to depend on the year of the car or truck. The two biggest differences are the management, either speed density or mass air and you have to keep the correct computer to the correct system. Normally mass air will be sequential injection and speed density will be a batch fire system. Mass air is the way to go as far as modification is concerned the other system has a hard time compensating to things such as aggressive cams. I don't know what years the crossover between the systems are but the trucks didn't get mass air til later. The year of your truck shouldn't matter all that much being you can strip a vehicle for every part you need. If it's an 88 listed in you info then most if your existing wiring will plug and play with what you are doing.

Matt

 

[Diggerauditor]

I'm looking at a 90 f150 302 truck harness or a auto harness from a 89 cougar with a 302. Just checking if I would lose performance by going with a truck computer for my swap or should I stay with an auto computer.

 

[projectnitemare]

The truck will be speed density for sure a guess would be 95 was the last year of that in the trucks, the cougar could be either so you have to check to what you are getting. I know the Mustang started going to mass air in 89 from what I remember but the cougar is based on the tbird chassis which could still be either. If you are planning any induction type modifications avoid the older speed density. It uses table in the computer's memory at a given engine speed, load, and temperature to calculate the fuel needs. You go and change a cam and intake that's enough to create issues, also they are engine size specific as well. Look at the cougar's intake tube for a mass air sensor, if it's there you are fine if not save the hassle and keep looking.

Matt

 

[scooter]

I believe 86 was the first year for MAF on the meatstain. I KNOW my 86 is MAF, not SD.


Todd S.

 

[gn2]

Early v8 Cars are Speed Density S.E.F.I. nAs I recall, mass air started in V8 Cali calibrations 88.5. Your 86 is likely an early convert. The T.B.I. car harness would possibly be easier to use with a Bank Fire Speed Density truck computer.

Speed Density is one thing. Bank Fire is another thing, S.E.F.I. another yet.
MAF/VAM really muddle it up. The bastard T.B.I. just to make it painful.

Bottom line. If you are staying near stock with say a 302 truck 86-91, use its computer with minimal wiring mods with a 2.9 efi 80's Ranger/Bronco 2 stock engine harness as a starting point. Not really complicated. When power is to be expanded then a Mass Air type system will be a good starting point. Obviously, what your starting with is a large variable with this platform. 1983 verse 2003 has some serious range of options.

 

[scooter]

Nope mine was not converted to maf.
Ill look again and see what year it is.

My 1st 5.0 came from a 86 Crown Vic, it was SD. The mustang was MAF, 99% sure it is a 86 also....


Todd S.

 

[Snoranger]

I believe 86 was the first year for MAF on the meatstain. I KNOW my 86 is MAF, not SD.


Todd S.

88 cali emissions was the 1st year for mass air. All 89-95 'stangs had mass air.

For the 86-88 speed density, ford sold a mass air conversion kit. (M-9000-A50 for the auto, M-9000-A51 for stick, M-9000-L58 for the lightning. I've installed a ton of those over the years, enough to remember the part numbers off the top of my head.) The kits also converted it from batch fire to SEFI on the truck engines.


If your '86 is mass air now, it wasnt when it rolled off the assembly line.

 

[scooter]

I stand corrected. My H.O. came outta a 88 meatstain. I just had 86 in my head.


Todd S.