93 Splash in SC, V8-Swap version

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I think I have an idea for mounting and protecting my PCM. The 5.0l harness doesn't reach to the PCM location in the 93 Ranger. I don't want to do a bunch of sketchy, bulky splicing of harnesses. I think I can mount this above or behind the intake and the harness will reach.
View attachment 145991View attachment 145992

And there's still room to keep a derringer in there for traveling through bad neighborhoods.

Although I like the idea, I wonder if enclosing it like that will be a problem with heat from the electronics and not having a case ground

 

[rubydist]

They already talk about me.

Fixed....

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Although I like the idea, I wonder if enclosing it like that will be a problem with heat from the electronics and not having a case ground

Keep the box full of water and it should keep things plenty cool.

 

[Curious Hound]

Although I like the idea, I wonder if enclosing it like that will be a problem with heat from the electronics and not having a case ground

I'm wondering about heat. Not sure that the PCM generates much heat on its own. Engine bay ambient is probably worse. The case will be grounded when I'm finished. This definitely can keep water away from it.

 

[Robert Mangrum]

I'm wondering about heat. Not sure that the PCM generates much heat on its own. Engine bay ambient is probably worse. The case will be grounded when I'm finished. This definitely can keep water away from it.

When I swapped the 2.3s from the 96 XLT to the 93 XL. I had to extend the wiring on the ECU. All I had was a roll of white 16 awg thhn. I cut and spiced each wire one at a time. I staggered each connection so I could fit it inside some split loom. It was a pain in the butt. Actually looked nice after i was done. I ended up swapping dash and everything by the end. I did have AC after that. It had a vacuum issue I never resolved. When you were on the accelerator it would blow through the defrost vents. Then go back to normal after you let off. I still see that 93 around town from time to time. I only know cause the guy never fixed the bed side I modified with a tree that winter. The 96 2.3 only had 50k on it when I put it in the truck. I wonder how many is on it now 20 years later.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I'm wondering about heat. Not sure that the PCM generates much heat on its own. Engine bay ambient is probably worse. The case will be grounded when I'm finished. This definitely can keep water away from it.

That is one thing I have been wondering about the last few years.

Semi truck ECM's generate enough heat they actually run engine coolant thru them, I have NEVER heard of anyone doing that with automotive stuff. Semi trucks have theirs bolted on the engine so I don't know if that is part of it or if they just run that hot.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

My Choptop computer I never put the kick panel back over. I could probably check it with a temp gun and see what it does. Of course, that doesn’t simulate an enclosed environment.

 

[Curious Hound]

Didn't get a lot of time on it today, plus, the weather was hot. I removed the clutch master cylinder/reservoir and pedal rod. Then I removed the brake master cylinder and booster. And since I was in the area, I pulled the PCM.

Why do Ford engineers hate people? The plastic/rubber seal for the PCM is held in with 2 nuts. The top one takes a 10mm socket. The bottom one, which you can't even see, has same size threads. But requires an 11mm socket. Got the top one off. Then fought for 15 minutes trying to get the same 10mm socket on the bottom nut.

 

[Curious Hound]

I got the passenger side engine mount out today. This was complicated by the Skyjacker lift kit. The axle beam pivot bracket blocked access to the nut on the bottom side of the engine crossmember. I finally got a hole saw and cut a hole in the bracket so I could stick a socket on an extension up in there. Still didn't work. I had to reach around from the back side and hold a crows foot on the nut with one hand while reaching my other arm around the shock, coil spring, brake rotor, etc. To jab a ratchet extension up in the hole and get it on the crows foot. Then I was able to move around to the extension, put a breaker bar on it and turn the nut. That's how it went. 1/4 turn, pull the crows foot back, reorient, slide it back on the nut and go another 1/4 turn, repeat until finished, all without actually SEEING the crows foot and nut.

Anyway, now that I have access to the crossmember and engine bay to measure stuff, it looks like plans may need to be re-thought. I don't think the Foxbody engine mounts will work. They get the motor almost high enough. But the mounting bolt for the driver side mount will be above the crossmember. It also appears that the double sump oil pan and the other axle beam pivot bracket will interfere with each other. We have "challenges-a-plenty".

We need a hole right up in the top of this gusset area.

ok. There's the hole

mount removed

 

[SenorNoob]

I like that. Looks like it should've been part of the design originally.