Gary Lewis

The advert said "1990-1999 FORD TRUCK MASTER PARTS TEXT CATALOG LIGHT TRUCK PICKUP VAN". But this book isn't nearly all of the "text" portion of the MPC. In fact, I think it may be less than 30% of the catalog. So I sent the vendor a message that the product wasn't as advertised and I want to return it. We shall see. But in the interim, I'm at a loss as to how to find out which trucks have the right cross member.

I don't know. Well, I had a session w/Adam this morning where he remoted in and set up Binary Editor. It was like drinking from Niagra Falls. Soooooo much washed over me and very, very little got absorbed. Or even adsorbed. But, he set up the YAZ3 box, which was a 302/4R70W, to be a '96 spec 460 w/a manual tranny. Then we turned off things like Canister Purge and EGR. Which led to a discussion of ignition timing. My understanding is that having turned off EGR it will no longer add several degrees of advance to the timing when the EGR is on. Then we discussed knock sensors, and he said he wouldn't run one on these engines as they don't work. So, I'll have to fine tune the ignition timing to the particular compression ratio I end up with as well as the Performer cam that's in the engine. Which means I'll have to find someone with much better ears than mine to ride shotgun. (Steve - Last year when Scott and I went after Huck he pointed out that the engine was pinging a LOT. I couldn't hear it. ) But, I have a very good starting point from which to begin the tuning - Ford's stock tune for a '96 460! It should not only start but run pretty well with that, and then I can fine tune it from there. Adam also set up logging so that when all of this goes together I can log it real time. Both from the EEC-V system as well as the Innovate wide-band AFR meter. At this time the only actual input that is functioning is Vbat, and it as a waveform that runs from 12.63 to 12.79 volts. Anyway, I'M DANGEROUS!!! Maybe even EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. And, since I'm retired does that mean I'm RED?

I'm going to have to study BB's TTB's vs those on Dad's truck to see if I can understand what would be needed to attach radius arms to the 250 TTB's. Well, the postman dropped the 1990-99 MPC text section off this morning. Unfortunately it is only the back end of the text section, meaning the soft trim and exterior moulding part, so it doesn't have the cross member info. Not sure what the path forward is now.

Interesting. Thanks! So it is set up to change the timing on engines with various inputs that the 5.0L doesn't have. Cool. As for dashpot, did some of the engines with EFI have them?

Yes, welcome! You'll have to show some pics of your truck or we may not believe you. We have a member's map (Bullnose Forum/Member's Map in the menu) and I can add you if you'd like.

Morning update: Adam wasn't available yesterday afternoon given how late I finally got all the updates done. But we may get to work on it a bit today, although both of our schedules are a bit hectic. However, I've been poking around in Binary Editor trying to familiarize myself with it. I loaded up the calibration for the YAZ3 box that is for a 1995 5.0L w/a 4R70W, which is the one I have connected to the test harness and have been looking through it. But, to this point I don't think I've gotten the box to talk to Binary Editor. Nonetheless, I'm gobsmacked at how many parameters there are in the box. It is just absolutely mind-boggling. So, let me give you a taste. Here's a screen shot of the spark information. Just note the number of folders/files on the left that have information. I've opened the Base Altitude Spark file, which I think is the spark advance in degrees on the X axis, and engine load on the Y-axis. However, look at the info in the box in the lower right, which is shown much larger in the following pic for those of you on itty bitty screens. That is the calculation the computer goes through to determine the engine spark advance. In other words, it takes into account the barometric pressure, the Engine Coolant Temp, the amount of EGR, the Air/Fuel Ratio, combustion noise (could that be spark knock?), IMRC - whatever that is, and the Dashpot - whatever that is. AND THAT IS JUST THE SPARK ADVANCE! YIPES!

That would be cool, but it can't be me. I'm looking for something quite different for the engine cross member.

Unless you have a very large compressor, plug the individual lines, or do it in a way I've not grasped, it would be hard to maintain 5 psi in the vacuum system. But, you can do the smoke test, as described here: http://www.garysgaragemahal.com/#nabble-td11511

Does that '83 happen to be a 4wd F250 or 350 w/a 460 or diesel?

I don't know the specs, but you can buy vacuum line in bulk at most parts stores. The ones you have are probably 1/8" or 3/16", but take pieces of what you have in and they can sell you several feet off the reel. Vacuum line is sized by the internal diameter, so you can figure out what you have by using drill bits.

Shaun - That's an interesting find. But, it is expensive! It says it includes: I'm going to have to study BB's TTB's vs those on Dad's truck to see if I can understand what would be needed to attach radius arms to the 250 TTB's.

The quick answer is no. The holes are all different and basically nothing bolts on. You would have to drill most of the holes yourself, which is the predicament I will be in once I pull the trigger on the Sky kit. I don't mind drilling holes. But there are other issues to puzzle through, like the cross member. It is all well and good to do the conversion on a truck with any other engine, but with a 460 or diesel?

Or even 2WD F-250 springs? I don't know what options there are, but just because a leaf sprung F-350 rides better than a leaf spring F-250 that doesn't mean that ALL F-350 springs are better riding than their F-250 counterparts. And I've posted a link to this thread before, but it shows how far you can go and how good an '82 F-250 with TTB (and coil springs) can really handle the bumps Which brings up another thought. GoFastBroncos.com is another resource that might be helpful in converting a TTB F-250 to coils. Yeah, it's not a Bronco, but that's where that F-250 link above comes from. He went hog wild on his project, but others there might have tamer builds. Bob - That's an interesting read. Looks like the F150's TTB's and coil springs worked exceedingly well. Shaun - The radius arm mounts from an F250 would, I assume, bolt onto any F250 frame. Right? If so, the question becomes whether the radius arms will bolt to the F250 TTB's. Then the next question would be if the 2WD LD F250's coil spring mounts could be bolted on. Hmmmm..... So that brings up the question of the cross member. Front what I see the 460's and diesels were only available in 250HD's and 350's with leaf springs, and a cross member for a leaf spring truck is quite different than one with coil springs as the TTB's pivot off the cross member. Right? But, Bill's F350 has coil spring and presumably swing arms. Could that cross member be used?

True, but I don't have the input pin on the ECU connector do I? Hmmmm, I'll have to look at that, but I don't remember mapping that one. I'm not sure if there will be better info for today, so I'll take the time while I'm waiting for over 5000 binary files of calibrations to Binary Editor. Yes, over 5000. Anyway, I got the registration dongle as well as the Direct Flash Cable in the mail today. Guess what - the DFC says Mongoose on it in big letters. So there's one mystery solved - the Mongoose Package shown on the home screen at Core Tuning is apparently the Direct Flash Package shown on the "shop" page that you go to when you click on the Mongoose Package. However, I haven't as yet been able to reconcile the fact that on the home page it is $649 and on the Shop page it is $629. Glad I ordered from the Shop page. Then I set about getting it to working. However I ran into problems and texted Adam, who then remoted in and took over the shop PC. But, after quite a while he was also stumped. So I suggested we use this tablet since it is what I'll ultimately use anyway in the truck and it is Win 10 while the shop PC is Win 8. So he got off and I went through the steps, I think, and got Binary Editor loaded. But when I said "update" it came back with a list of over 5000 calibrations to load, and here I sit while it goes about it in the background. We just counted down to less than 1000 left, so we shall see. And when it gets done I'm to get Adam back online.

How about these with the new [too short] seatbelts? https://www.ebay.com/itm/OEM-F-MULTIPLE-Seat-Belt-Extension-Extender-1975-1996-NOS-FORD-BRONCO-F-100-350/143156891503?epid=1411187795&hash=item2154d0cf6f:g:KsAAAOSw96FcfBoz Interesting! That would do it, although it is fixing someone else's problem by spending more money.

I kinda like the blackout approach. Black bumpers, black grille, black windshield surround, etc.

Thanks, Steve!

Actually, Gary, it has ~5" Hg @ idle [venturi vacuum]. Thanks for the correction, David. So, it isn't usable for vacuum advance.

Yep. I wrote it up in the EFI For Big Blue thread, but you might want to just start reading here.

Your truck is going to have lots of little touches that only the true Ford gurus will catch. Get that body work done and you are almost "there"!

I think you can install it w/o any special tools. But I'll look in the factory shop manual in a bit to see what I can find......

True, but I don't have the input pin on the ECU connector do I? Hmmmm, I'll have to look at that, but I don't remember mapping that one.

You are on the map.

It certainly could. But keep in mind that in addition to supporting the weight, the leaf springs also locate the outer end of the axle beam. With coils you need to add radius arms. Not undoable, but it does get a little more complicated. Yep, I could add the radius arms pretty easily. Make it like a 4wd F150 but use F350 springs.

Haha with a 460, that's the smartest move one could make! Yes, the old addage that a 460 will pass anything but a gas station doesn't take into account the new technology. My 3.5L EB will run off and leave my 460, out tow it, and it returns 11.0 MPG towing our 25' boat while the BEST I've gotten with the 460 is 11.5 MPG running light and gently.