Almost done with the 302 swap, encountered a problem!!

[Got302ci]

Hey so I have been working on swapping a 302 into my 1995 ford ranger.

Originally had a 2.3L and it decided it didnt like the #2 con rod so it parted with it at 70mph.

Anyways I bought a 1988 Lincoln Town car for $400 and drove it an hour home and it ran 110%, had lots of power and only had 91K on it.

It has the AOD (all mechanical) and wile yes I know its not a GT-40 from an exploder, it was cheap and available and my ranger needed a new engine and I shure as hell wasnt putting another POS 2.3L in it.


So Its almost all done but it doesnt seem to run quite right, it has a rough idle to it and is lacking power big time.


BTW I am still using the 2.3L in tank fuel pump, and it has 170K on it so I am thinking it might be that but I am not shure.


I put an exploder front cover on the engine along with harmonic balancer and accessory mounts.

So I have no real way to accurately set the timing but i got it close to where it was when the engine was installed in the Lincoln.

It really seems like a fuel problem (or lack there of) but I am at a loss and need some help.


Its OBDI so not much help from the computer and I checked all the sensors and they all checked out.

It currently just has exhaust manifolds on it but I am putting a muffler on it this week.


Any help would be appreciated, thanks.

 

[mentalbreakdown00]

you can set the timing with a vacuum gauge if you have one. You might just want to check the fuel presuure and volume if you can snag a tester off a friend or someone.

 

[brandonwh64]

Post Pictures!!!!

 

[Got302ci]

Post Pictures!!!!

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[Got302ci]

It has 32psig fuel pressure when its idling

 

[Bogdon]

idle psi is not going to help you, you need to accuratly test under load.

 

[dangerranger83]

Looks great but I would try to get the front end up in the air a little more. As for it lagging power could the system be in limp mode meaning is the timing advancing? If its not then I wont run right. Just one thing to check. Another thing, what was the v-8 fuel pressure suppose to be at? It might not be getting enough pressure or fuel volume for that engine.

 

[Teddyzee]

Was there any codes present? You can check them with a meter if you didn't hook up the check engine light.

Does moving the dist improve the idle?

Vacuum lines connected or leaking?

Firing order correct? That engine is a non-HO, so it's 1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8.

My truck runs well on the stock fuel pump, but I'm not sure if mine, a 4.0, would be different from yours.
It could very well be fuel related. As an example, I have a 4.6 Mustang. all summer, it's had a horrible miss, it will barely move. But I've neglected it, as I'm having too much fun with the Ranger. I feared it was a camp position sensor or timing chains or something. This weekend I cahnged the $10 fuel filter, and the car has more power than it ever has since I've owned it!

So, hopefully yours is something simple, too.

 

[Got302ci]

I dont know if it is in limp mode, how exactly would I check that out?? It is OBDI so I figured it is pretty stupid as far as diagnostic capabilities go.

How would I go about getting the front end up more??


Alldata says the fuel pressure should be at 32-40psi at idle for the 1988 Lincoln Town Car (car engine came from), and thats right where it is but I have no way of checking volume.


I will say tho that if I disconnect the fuel pressure reguators vacuum line it runs better, that is what led me to believe it isnt getting enough fuel but I am not shure.

 

[Got302ci]

All the vacuum lines are brand new and yes it has many codes because I got rid of all the emissions crap and it is upset about that lol.

The O2 sensors are also not currently hooked up.


The fuel pump is the same regardless of what engine came in the ranger (same part number)

Yes moving the dist improves the idle ALOT, twisting it Clockwise (standing in front of the truck and looking straight down at it), it smoothes out and purrs but that is farther than it was set when it was in the lincoln.

Brand new Fuel filter BTW

 

[Teddyzee]

Turning it clockwise is INCREASING the timing advance. Not sure the typical Lincoln setting, but stock HO setting is 10deg advance without the spout connector. Many were apparently set with less advance than that.
Mine is currently set at 14deg.
If changing the timing improves idle, I would not worry about turning it past the stock (original) setting. It may have had very little advance. Just listen for any detonation under load while driving.

 

[Got302ci]

Yea I figured I was advancing it, it is right in the neighborhood of the original setting and I havent driven it far enough to see if its detonating.

I dont have an HO engine however.

 

[dangerranger83]

Limp mode is when the timing doesnt advance when the engine rpm's are increased. But before you do anything I would hook up the O2 sensors and anyother things that may not be hooked up before doing anything else.

 

[88302Camotruck]

I 2nd the 02 sensors..... I was under the assumption the 4 banger fuel pump could not keep up to the V-8. The 88 Crown Vic I have feels good but I have to take in consideration of the transfer case robbing power. Also the AOD has different gearing so it isnt as torquey as the V-6 tranny. Just my wonderful .02....
Steve

 

[Got302ci]

Hey I measured everything and here is what I got:

Ignition On, Engine Off

TPS:
Orange-5VDC
Green-1.196VDC
Black-32 Ohms to batt ground

MAP:
Orange-5VDC
Green/Black-2.45VDC
31.7 Ohms to ground

On the ECM I got 16.5 Ohms to Batt ground

On the ECT sensor I got 70K ohms on the signal line with the engine cold and it had been sitting all night and it got pretty cold.

Again there are no O2 sensors currently but I dont think that should affect it untill its warmed up.

On a side note the damn thing wont idle, it I back off the manual idle screw it just dies unless you give it throttle and it never did that in the lincoln.

Also if you give the throttle a quick snap it dies as though it cant catch its self before it dies.

BTW I am 2WD so no transfer case