Taking the 302 plunge, any help appreciated!

[bobbywalter]

Yeah I really like idea of the Explorer engine and trans. I've got those sourced and I have an ECU sourced, it really just comes down to wire harness. I haven't come across any and if I wanted to use a Mustang harness I would also have to use a Mustang ECU, which means I'm back to not being able to go with the 4R70W. Right?

the stand alone controller is big money, but the b.e. controls unit is pimp. they can be found on occasion used and or in the salvage yard and well well worth the time and money if you really want a great auto..

running the ecu from a car or truck 4r70w obd1 application-- piggy backed with the pre 4r70w stang stuff is possible too.... but not ideal by a long shot. definitely some serious cons. if one is asking then generally speaking the wiring trainwreck is out of the question to deal with.

funny thing is i just dealt with this from a setup i did and it was a trainwreck as i could not remember the splicing order and shitcanned the whole deal instead of dissasembling it and reworking it in favor of a new build setup...

 

[bobbywalter]

EDIT: Could I just use a 94-95 Mustang ECU and harness even though the engine is a 98 with PATS? The 94-95 ECU would be programmed to control the 4R70W already, right?

the 98 engine wont give a flying fat rats ass if it has a 4bbl and points dizzy or the 94-95 setup provided the points dizzy has the right cam gear.. the auto 94-5 setup with the 4r70 will be a good way to go in the end.

the truck cam is livable. a tweecer or moates setup will make future tuning for future upgrades very easy once you understand them. they are very very cost effective and worthy investments when all is considered.

i would make the ignition and starting system on switches and go from there bypassing the pats as iirc the pats isnt part of the 98 cluster systems.

 

[bobbywalter]

you too,huh

just seen ya......


you probably had a good idea that was the case though...

and i am certain you would drive away with my junk too

 

[gwaii]

just seen ya......


you probably had a good idea that was the case though...

and i am certain you would drive away with my junk too

makes for good security,though

i had even given tutorials on how to drive the ranger,and the student still couldn't get it to move.easiest way to steal it would be to take it apart and take it a piece at a time

 

[jaxwithanx]

I think the easiest thing to do is just go with the Explorer engine and an ECU/harness and AOD from a 89-93 or a ECU/harness and AOD-E from a 94-95.

I started looking up the B.E. control for the 4R70W and it just seems way more involved than what I'm looking for. I'm really just trying to build a simple toy to enjoy in and around the neighborhood.

Does those two combinations I mentioned above make sense/feasible? Is it possible to just have a 94-95 Mustang ECU tuned for the different shift points of the 4R70W?

 

[Teddyzee]

The mechanical engine parts do not care which harness and ECU are running them, so don't let that confuse you.

 

[jaxwithanx]

The mechanical engine parts do not care which harness and ECU are running them, so don't let that confuse you.

Yeah, I guess my biggest problem has been wrapping my head around the 4R70W. I have gathered now that I'm good with a Mustang ECU and harness with the 98 Explorer engine, what I'm struggling with is if I go ahead and utilize a 94-95 Mustang ECU programmed for the stock AODE, what has to happen to incorporate the 4R70W because of the different shift points.

I've read A. stand-alone controller B. just re-tuning the ECU to C. it will work with no modifications.

To be more specific, I was looking to buy this (http://houston.craigslist.org/pts/2134032491.html) and mate it with the Explorer engine. But everything I've read so far tells me this shouldn't work that easily, with just the Mustang ECU.

 

[jaxwithanx]

Now I've been pointed to a 98 Explorer ECU as well, which should work perfectly between the Explorer engine and the 4R70W, but I have no Explorer wiring harness. Can a Mustang harness be spliced/modified to work?

BTW - I appreciate the babysitting and hand-holding everyone has done. I become mildly obsessive over trying to sort things out and I'm so extremely new to all of this....I'm trying my best to independently search and gain knowledge as much as possible but I'd be a fool to not ask for clarity.

 

[bobbywalter]

Now I've been pointed to a 98 Explorer ECU as well, which should work perfectly between the Explorer engine and the 4R70W, but I have no Explorer wiring harness. Can a Mustang harness be spliced/modified to work?

BTW - I appreciate the babysitting and hand-holding everyone has done. I become mildly obsessive over trying to sort things out and I'm so extremely new to all of this....I'm trying my best to independently search and gain knowledge as much as possible but I'd be a fool to not ask for clarity.

sploder is 104 and different then early 60 pin car.

i can make anything from scratch so its a non issue for me, but i sure as hell would rather start with a harness that is close because its a time consuming pia.... using the sploder harness and system complete is the best bet imo. should be easy to track one down at a salvage yard, i notice just the heads and pcm get robbed first and wiring stays intact unless literally cut out of the way...bout 60 40.


the craigslist listing is a decent deal, but you will have to convert the trans to a 4x4 setup to go 4x4.....which is not much to do since its a fresh tranny....swap out tial shaft and housing, cheap and easy for the most part.

 

[jaxwithanx]

sploder is 104 and different then early 60 pin car.

i can make anything from scratch so its a non issue for me, but i sure as hell would rather start with a harness that is close because its a time consuming pia.... using the sploder harness and system complete is the best bet imo. should be easy to track one down at a salvage yard, i notice just the heads and pcm get robbed first and wiring stays intact unless literally cut out of the way...bout 60 40.


the craigslist listing is a decent deal, but you will have to convert the trans to a 4x4 setup to go 4x4.....which is not much to do since its a fresh tranny....swap out tial shaft and housing, cheap and easy for the most part.

So you are saying that the craigslist trans I posted wouldn't be able to be work with the components provided and the Explorer engine? Or that it would just be a lot easier to go all Explorer on everything (harness and ECU)...

 

[bobbywalter]

So you are saying that the craigslist trans I posted wouldn't be able to be work with the components provided and the Explorer engine? Or that it would just be a lot easier to go all Explorer on everything (harness and ECU)...

what you listed can be made to work with the sploder engine, you will need to buy a distributor for a 95. you may need to fit the mustang sensors as well, cant remember what stays and goes.

if you want a 2wd application that stang setup is on time and usable.


4x4, i would hold out for a running sploder setup complete.

 

[jaxwithanx]

what you listed can be made to work with the sploder engine, you will need to buy a distributor for a 95. you may need to fit the mustang sensors as well, cant remember what stays and goes.

if you want a 2wd application that stang setup is on time and usable.


4x4, i would hold out for a running sploder setup complete.

Gotcha, I'm not shooting for a 4x4 setup so I'm pretty sure I will be going with the craigslist trans setup and the 98 Explorer engine I have sourced.

Any last suggestions, opinions, advice, remarks from anyone before I get going?

 

[bobbywalter]

do it...get it done.

 

[bobbywalter]

you need the car pan though

 

[Teddyzee]

Keep in mind that your 1988 Bronco II does not have the 42 pin connector (engine harness to body harness) that 1995-current trucks have. So an Explorer harness is in no way plug and play, so the harness you choose (Mustang, Explorer, whatever) is going to require the same amount of work. Your rig uses a couple connectors, one of which is a large 53 pin piece. You use about nine of them...

The trans an harness you listed would work.
If you want info on a 4r70w trans in a '94/'95 'Stang, browse the Mustang forums.

Major differences with the '94/'95 Harness or the Distributor uses a remote mount TFI module, instead of the early version, where the TFI is mounted to the Distributor body itself. Not a big deal, but you're looking at a couple specific parts. I believe that harness is one piece, as well.

Don't let the zillion answers confuse you, there are many ways to do this.