TFI Module Replacement

[RangerMan64]

Hello everyone,

I was wondering if I need to take the distributor out to get the TFI Module off the base. It seems there is enough room to slide it down and out, but not sure. It's an 88 Ranger 2.9L

Thanks

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Hello everyone,

I was wondering if I need to take the distributor out to get the TFI Module off the base. It seems there is enough room to slide it down and out, but not sure. It's an 88 Ranger 2.9L

Thanks

It can be done without removing the distributor... but it ain't easy. I practically had to lay on the engine of my choptop to be close enough to it to work on it. You may also discover that you need a special socket to get it off... some don't require a special socket, but most do, since the engineers decided to make the holes too small to fit a normal socket down in to remove the tiny bolts....

 

[RangerMan64]

It can be done without removing the distributor... but it ain't easy. I practically had to lay on the engine of my choptop to be close enough to it to work on it. You may also discover that you need a special socket to get it off... some don't require a special socket, but most do, since the engineers decided to make the holes too small to fit a normal socket down in to remove the tiny bolts....

OK glad I can do it without removing the distributor. I don't even know how the hell someone would remove the distributor being so damn close to the firewall. Well I guess I will pull the thing when it isn't raining outside. I bought the special socket for it today though.

Thanks

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

OK glad I can do it without removing the distributor. I don't even know how the hell someone would remove the distributor being so damn close to the firewall. Well I guess I will pull the thing when it isn't raining outside. I bought the special socket for it today though.

Thanks

Probably the easiest way to pull the distributor is to first pull the upper intake on the 2.9....

Although if you take the distributor cap off then pull the bolt holding the distributor in place you can pull typically work the distributor up an out...

Pulling a distributor an getting it set back down kinda sucks though... I think I could pull an replace a distributor blindfolded, in the dark, in a hurricane though... I had one hell of a time getting it set right so the truck would start when I pulled the one in my choptop when I swapped motors...

 

[sweetwaterbroncoII]

I changed mine...It is really easy...took me all of 5 minutes to take it off and put the new one on.

 

[TwoWhels]

easy job with right socket .... BUT DO NOT USE ... the white grease that comes with a new one

USE Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound

 

[RangerMan64]

easy job with right socket .... BUT DO NOT USE ... the white grease that comes with a new one

USE Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound

I heard that too, but why does it come with the white grease when you need the other stuff?

 

[TwoWhels]

All I can say is look where the part was made

 

[RangerMan64]

All I can say is look where the part was made

Good point

 

[RangerMan64]

I forgot to ask, what is the best brand for a TFI module? I looked at Shuck's Auto and they had Standard Motor Pruducts, Accel Performance, and Niehoff. I don't know about trusting Duralast for an ignition module.

Thanks

 

[MikeWild]

how much did they quote you for a price?

 

[RangerMan64]

how much did they quote you for a price?

Well I looked online, as they said they would take that price. Accel Performance was $68, BWD was $84, Motorcraft was $153, Niehoff was $46-128, and Duralast was $42.

 

[MikeWild]

wow, quite the range in prices. I had to buy one for my 2.9 it was a niehoff and it was $108 CND

turns out all I had was a faulty ground, it's still sitting here in the box.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

lol, I got mine from a junkyard... I pulled the parts to do a remote mount TFI as well....

TFI modules are affected by heat... so why Ford engineers decided the dizzy was a good place to mount them I'll never know.... some full size trucks were recalled and fitted with a setup that moved the TFI to the inner fender with a heat sink, while others came factory with the TFI fitted in a heat sink on the inner fender. Since I couldn't find any fitted with the alteration package, I took one that was fender mounted with the wiring intending on retrofitting my choptop, but I haven't gotten around to installing it yet. IIRC there's a write-up on the tech archives about it...

 

[RangerMan64]

lol, I got mine from a junkyard... I pulled the parts to do a remote mount TFI as well....

TFI modules are affected by heat... so why Ford engineers decided the dizzy was a good place to mount them I'll never know.... some full size trucks were recalled and fitted with a setup that moved the TFI to the inner fender with a heat sink, while others came factory with the TFI fitted in a heat sink on the inner fender. Since I couldn't find any fitted with the alteration package, I took one that was fender mounted with the wiring intending on retrofitting my choptop, but I haven't gotten around to installing it yet. IIRC there's a write-up on the tech archives about it...

I think I was reading an article about Ford putting it on the dizzy just to save some money. I am planning on doing the same remote setup as well once I can get my truck running again. Hopefully I can get down to AZ and have them test the module. My junkyard is having a half off sale for Valentine's Day.

MikeWild- Where can I find a ground wiring diagram?