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JavaG66
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2008
- Messages
- 56
- City
- South Carolina
- Vehicle Year
- 1986
- Engine
- 2.9 V6
- Transmission
- Automatic
The ICM on my '86 Ranger had become undependable, and I decided to move it to a cooler spot with very helpful guidance from the Remote Mount TFI Ignition Module article posted elsewhere on TRS. I chose method 2 for the wiring and gutted an old ICM to plug into the bottom of the distributor. It was tedious work and required good soldering skills; the stuff inside is small. But at least I didn't have to pull out the distributor. I spent about $15 for a Aerostar heat sink and a long piece of harness with another 6 pin plug. The wires were colored different, so I spent a lot of time with the VOM checking it as I went. The new extension cords were wrapped with several layers of tin foil and a spiral bare trace, put in a plastic loom and taped up nice. All told, I probably spent more than 20 hours on the project.
With the right little tool, the ICM can be changed out in less than 30 minutes, and ICMs can be had for $18, so you may want to consider your time if you are thinking about this upgrade. But I do have more confidence in my engine now, and I intend to replace the existing flakey (but cooler) module with a better quality one. And it was a satisfying kind of fun making it better.
With the right little tool, the ICM can be changed out in less than 30 minutes, and ICMs can be had for $18, so you may want to consider your time if you are thinking about this upgrade. But I do have more confidence in my engine now, and I intend to replace the existing flakey (but cooler) module with a better quality one. And it was a satisfying kind of fun making it better.
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