Cam Questions and other Upgrades

[Range98]

Yes sadly I made that realization. Is there anyway around the ECU? Can I reprogram it or something to get some kind of choppy idle

 

[Teddyzee]

Define "nasty". If you're talking about it having a lopey idle, that's not going to happen with an EFI setup. The two do not go hand in hand.You can do it with a carbed engine, but the idle speed controller on an EFI setup can't deal with it. The best it'll do is the idle will constantly move up and down by a few hundred rpms and sound like crap doing it.

Oh really? (click video)



The idle is very easy to mess with while using EFI. Just don't let the clean-hands Mustang jackasses hear that you mess with the idle screw, the panties tend to bunch up in a hurry.

 

[Range98]

Wow! That is a really clean swap and it sounds really good. What did you do to get that idle?? What cam are you using? That engine looks like it came stock in that truck really nice job.

 

[Teddyzee]

Wow! That is a really clean swap and it sounds really good. What did you do to get that idle?? What cam are you using? That engine looks like it came stock in that truck really nice job.

The is the classic Ford B303 cam and 1.7:1 rockers.

Best tip for idle is a quick step called "base idle reset".
Basically, set TPS to spec, disconnect IAC wiring, set minimum idle speed wherever you want, as long as it will still run. Double check that TPS is still in spec after idle adjust, then reset ECU by disconnecting the battery briefly. Hook up the the IAC wiring and battery, and you're done. If it won't idle or stalls, just bump the set screw until it will.

Along the same lines, I deleted the IAC on my Mustang 4.6 (with a solid metal "gasket") as the idle function is just silly. It would idle at 11-1200rpm while moving. I set it to 600rpm (it's stock internally) and the rpm drop as soon as I touch the clutch. I don't use AC and don't drive it in the winter, so it is okay this low. A more reasonable 750 would be easier to drive, but I like the sound idling low like that.

 

[baddad457]

Well, my bad. I've always heard that the reason why the E cam (and other lopey cams)wouldn't work was cause of the idle issues. Guess I heard wrong.

 

[Teddyzee]

Well, my bad. I've always heard that the reason why the E cam (and other lopey cams)wouldn't work was cause of the idle issues. Guess I heard wrong.

I think that more specifically it's the Explorer 5.0 OBDII ECU that has some compatibility issues. The Mustang stuff does quite well with all the FordRacing cams, even without any tuning.

 

[baddad457]

Well I should know better since the B cam was originally made for the SD motors.

 

[Range98]

Well this made me my week! I was not looking forward to trying to force my truck to have a nice idle but that seems pretty straightforward now. I'm getting more and more excited to get rolling on the project. I'll try to do a decent write up and I'll make sure to include my try at adjusting the idle. Thanks for the help!