The '87-96/7 F-series/Bronco EEC isn't in an area with lots of airflow, but it's not wrapped in plastic, either. It's almost touching the painted steel lower A-pillar, which conducts heat at least as fast as flowing air. A plastic box is a good thermal insulator, which I think would make the EEC substantially hotter than normal.
The '94-96 MAF air filter box is significantly different from the '87-95 MAP filter box, even though they take the same filter and their mounting trays are very similar. But you can't mix the trays, lower boxes, or upper boxes. The MAP lower box mounts to its tray with 2 grommetted screws, and to the upper box with 4 more screws. The MAF lower box has 3 screws for the tray, and slots plus spring clips for the lid.
https://supermotors.net/getfile/825935/thumbnail/airfilters.jpg
At a glance, the lowers are almost indistinguishable. But if you notice the details, they're entirely incompatible.
I may have been mistaken then about the lid compatibility. If so then he can just get the entire box and lid assembly from a mass air truck and use the inlet tube from a lightning if he’s wanting to retain a factory style air box or just use a conical filter style setup that eliminates the factory air box like pictured.