86 2.9 to 99 ranger 4.0 swap computer relocation

[Efordman]

So I'm swapping a 4.0 from a 1999 ranger to my 86 B2. I'm trying to figure out where to mount the computer under the hood of the bronco. So it is mounted in a box on the firewall between center of the truck and the AC box and is only accessible from under the hood. I would like to mount it without cutting any of the harness wires for it. My original idea was to use the same mount on the bronco but there is no where near enough room... I have several ideas or waterproof containers but it seems like the case would need to be vented at least right?

 

[fastpakr]

So I'm swapping a 4.0 from a 1999 ranger to my 86 B2. I'm trying to figure out where to mount the computer under the hood of the bronco. So it is mounted in a box on the firewall between center of the truck and the AC box and is only accessible from under the hood. I would like to mount it without cutting any of the harness wires for it. My original idea was to use the same mount on the bronco but there is no where near enough room... I have several ideas or waterproof containers but it seems like the case would need to be vented at least right?

Is there any way to create a slot through the firewall on the B2 so you could mount it similarly to the '99?

 

[Efordman]

There's not enough room for that. I mentioned it in the original post... I will have to mount it in a box of some kind

 

[adsm08]

I think i would try to build a jumper harness that will plug into the factory harness and the computer to extend it to where ever you need to go.

 

[fastpakr]

There's not enough room for that. I mentioned it in the original post... I will have to mount it in a box of some kind

Sorry, I thought you meant that the '99 ECU wouldn't fit in the Bronco's original ECU position. That said, ADSM's solution of creating a jumper sounds like the best alternative.

 

[Efordman]

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Stack-On-Portable-Case-with-Combination-Lock-PC-95C-Black/16637366

So i had one of these cases that I found at a dirt cheap store in Tuscaloosa where I used to live for like 5$. The combination dials were messed up and didn't work ...well the computer fit in it like a glove with some trimming on the end after removing the lock parts. Now I'm going to get a bracket welded to the case and mount it on the firewall near the HVAC box so it kinda hangs over the coil pack of the 4.0. basically it will be in the same location and orientation as the range except above the engine instead of in the firewall. To make an extension harness It would be over 100$ just for the male and female ends. that's​ out of my budget for this project.

 

[fastpakr]

Glad you found a good enclosure to work. After my previous post I started searching for ways to extend the harness and didn't come up with any good alternatives. The best cheap option I came up with was to buy a second ECU from any physically compatible vehicle and just use the bulkhead component to wire in an extension from the back side down to wherever you wanted to mount inside.