Converting to mass air on the 5.0

[Steve83]

...remove the upper plenum just to get at the engine portion of the EFI harness, the right side is buried under it.

I haven't actually messed with an Explorer 5.0L, but I was able to get my big hands under the nearly-identical 5.8L plenum to disconnect the injectors.

https://supermotors.net/getfile/1133869/thumbnail/wrgeng.jpg

Here, you can see all the way through that channel:

https://supermotors.net/getfile/1133900/thumbnail/20180522_192136.jpg

...the 1986 body does not have provision for the later airfilter housing...

I didn't have much trouble fitting the '87-95 MAP air filter to my '83.

https://supermotors.net/getfile/144063/thumbnail/engine-bay.jpg

The '94-96 MAF filter fits identically.

https://supermotors.net/getfile/825935/thumbnail/airfilters.jpg

You could, as Steve83 pointed out just drop a later system in, and stay with the MAP sensor.

I was actually talking about keeping the original stock MAP system. It wasn't changed (other than EEC programming) through '95 (optionally).

Biggest thing with the 5.0L in a truck, it lacks torque at low rpm which a truck needs much more than a car, you are dealing with something that weighs almost twice what a Mustang does.

But I think the 5.0Ls from Explorers are built with truck cams - not Mustang/Mk.VIII cams.

[Gary Lewis]

...remove the upper plenum just to get at the engine portion of the EFI harness, the right side is buried under it.

I haven't actually messed with an Explorer 5.0L, but I was able to get my big hands under the nearly-identical 5.8L plenum to disconnect the injectors.

https://supermotors.net/getfile/1133869/thumbnail/wrgeng.jpg

Here, you can see all the way through that channel:

https://supermotors.net/getfile/1133900/thumbnail/20180522_192136.jpg

...the 1986 body does not have provision for the later airfilter housing...

I didn't have much trouble fitting the '87-95 MAP air filter to my '83.

https://supermotors.net/getfile/144063/thumbnail/engine-bay.jpg

The '94-96 MAF filter fits identically.

https://supermotors.net/getfile/825935/thumbnail/airfilters.jpg

You could, as Steve83 pointed out just drop a later system in, and stay with the MAP sensor.

I was actually talking about keeping the original stock MAP system. It wasn't changed (other than EEC programming) through '95 (optionally).

Biggest thing with the 5.0L in a truck, it lacks torque at low rpm which a truck needs much more than a car, you are dealing with something that weighs almost twice what a Mustang does.

But I think the 5.0Ls from Explorers are built with truck cams - not Mustang/Mk.VIII cams.

Steve - Your pic of the under-hood area on your truck answered a question for me. I was wondering of I'll be able to use the 85/86 coolant recovery bottle in its original location when I convert Big Blue to EEC-V. But you used a later one turned sideways, presumably to get the extra front/rear clearance. Right?

[85lebaront2]

...remove the upper plenum just to get at the engine portion of the EFI harness, the right side is buried under it.

I haven't actually messed with an Explorer 5.0L, but I was able to get my big hands under the nearly-identical 5.8L plenum to disconnect the injectors.

https://supermotors.net/getfile/1133869/thumbnail/wrgeng.jpg

Here, you can see all the way through that channel:

https://supermotors.net/getfile/1133900/thumbnail/20180522_192136.jpg

...the 1986 body does not have provision for the later airfilter housing...

I didn't have much trouble fitting the '87-95 MAP air filter to my '83.

https://supermotors.net/getfile/144063/thumbnail/engine-bay.jpg

The '94-96 MAF filter fits identically.

https://supermotors.net/getfile/825935/thumbnail/airfilters.jpg

You could, as Steve83 pointed out just drop a later system in, and stay with the MAP sensor.

I was actually talking about keeping the original stock MAP system. It wasn't changed (other than EEC programming) through '95 (optionally).

Biggest thing with the 5.0L in a truck, it lacks torque at low rpm which a truck needs much more than a car, you are dealing with something that weighs almost twice what a Mustang does.

But I think the 5.0Ls from Explorers are built with truck cams - not Mustang/Mk.VIII cams.

First, 5.8 L is taller and wider than the 5.0 L, therefore more room between the valve covers, second, 5.0 L EGR tube (easily broken) comes out of the center of the intake (where the carbureted crossover would be) so it is not possible to reach all the way through.

Air filter, it may surprise you to know how much research I did before doing my EFI conversion on my 1986 460. First thing I ran into was computers, MAF 460s are extremely rare, one fellow actually called the computer for them a Unicorn, I replied be posting a picture of an actual FEZ3 EEC-V box I have. If you have a manual transmission, or a C6, you can adapt a 5.0 L or 5.8 L MAF EEC to it, but you need some sort of piggyback tuner, such as a Moates quarter-horse or TwEECer to change the firing order, cyl. volume and injector size. If, as I planned on, you are using an E4OD, you have to have an EEC that will control it. The 4R70/75W EECs are not interchangeable with the E4OD ones. There are 5.0 L EECs that will work, primarily Bronco ones. I had obtained a WAY1 EEC and wiring when I first started the evolution. Plan changed when I spent over 6 months trying to find some information on setting up the shift points on the E4OD, I didn't really want to be buzzing a 460 up like a 302, second I wanted to stay in lockup on the converter as much as possible. E4OD converters are really bad about heat generation.

Since my front sheet metal was pretty bad due to the previous owner parking by feel, and I had bought a 1990 F250 parts truck (the owner delivered it to my house for $845.00), I planned on just swapping the front doghouse. I had obtained a couple of extra front harnesses and originally was going to use the 1987-1991 style harness system. This also solved the air filter issue. While I was working on the plan, I found a 1992 F150 and was able to get the front harness from it, I later got a 1995 dash from pick and pull, went back the next day and got the harness I had removed and left. The primary reason I went that way was the greatly improved power distribution that started in 1992. After starting to fit the 1990 harness, and finding that if I wanted to go SEFI there were not enough pins available in the 4 X 8 pin body to engine connections.

At this point I was still planning on using the WAY1 EEC and a TwEECer I had bought, after posting on EEC Tuner.org, I was contacted by Adam Marrer, POPS Racing about using an EEC-V. These do not need a piggyback tuner as they are reflashable. He sold me a package that included a 1996 5.8 L EEC-V since they use the E4OD, software, Mongoose Pro pass through cable and tech support. I built a bench flash rig and using a small 12V battery as a buffer and a trickle charger, we did a hands on tutorial. I am still refining the program, the EVAP system changed from a CANP system to a VMV system, and there was a glitch in the code that makes the EEC think there is a wiring issue. It seems corrected now.

I have a complete 1996 interior in Darth except for Lincoln Continental bucket seats, I also switched rear doors so I have complete 4 door power windows and locks. Now I need to find a lightning speedometer, as Darth has been capable for years of running well past 85 mph.

[85lebaront2]

Steve - Your pic of the under-hood area on your truck answered a question for me. I was wondering of I'll be able to use the 85/86 coolant recovery bottle in its original location when I convert Big Blue to EEC-V. But you used a later one turned sideways, presumably to get the extra front/rear clearance. Right?

Gary, here is the way Darth's coolant recovery/washer fluid reservoir sits:

[Gary Lewis]

Gary, here is the way Darth's coolant recovery/washer fluid reservoir sits:

Bill - Thanks. But you, like Steve, chose to use the later coolant recovery reservoir. Is there a reason?

[85lebaront2]

Bill - Thanks. But you, like Steve, chose to use the later coolant recovery reservoir. Is there a reason?

Gary, in my case it is the one that came with the 1990 parts truck, I just put the entire "doghouse" from the 1990 on Darth. One reason I can think of, try adding coolant to the older reservoirs.

[Gary Lewis]

Gary, in my case it is the one that came with the 1990 parts truck, I just put the entire "doghouse" from the 1990 on Darth. One reason I can think of, try adding coolant to the older reservoirs.

Bill - Thanks, that makes sense. And I understand what you mean about adding coolant through the small hole in the older reservoirs.

[85lebaront2]

Bill - Thanks, that makes sense. And I understand what you mean about adding coolant through the small hole in the older reservoirs.

Yes, small funnel or turkey baster come to mind.

[Steve83]

...you used a later one turned sideways, presumably to get the extra front/rear clearance. Right?

I used the donor engine's original air filter in its original location, relative to the engine (because the intake hoses are nearly rigid, so that's where it has to be to fit). That filter bracket goes where the older coolant/washer tank was, so I couldn't keep that old tank (or the old tool box or aux.batt. tray). And the new filter bracket is built to hold the new tank, which I also got, so I just swapped it all at the same time.

First, 5.8 L is taller and wider than the 5.0 L, therefore more room between the valve covers...

I don't think it's enough to make a difference, but don't remember trying on the only 5.0L swap I've done.

..second, 5.0 L EGR tube...comes out of the center of the intake...so it is not possible to reach all the way through.

But you could still reach in from the front, and then from the back.

[Gary Lewis]

...you used a later one turned sideways, presumably to get the extra front/rear clearance. Right?

I used the donor engine's original air filter in its original location, relative to the engine (because the intake hoses are nearly rigid, so that's where it has to be to fit). That filter bracket goes where the older coolant/washer tank was, so I couldn't keep that old tank (or the old tool box or aux.batt. tray). And the new filter bracket is built to hold the new tank, which I also got, so I just swapped it all at the same time.

First, 5.8 L is taller and wider than the 5.0 L, therefore more room between the valve covers...

I don't think it's enough to make a difference, but don't remember trying on the only 5.0L swap I've done.

..second, 5.0 L EGR tube...comes out of the center of the intake...so it is not possible to reach all the way through.

But you could still reach in from the front, and then from the back.

Yes, the tubes are rigid. I have the full set for the 460 mass air setup, and the air cleaner is going right where yours is. I even kept the driver's fender from the donor so I'd know where the air cleaner really goes. And, I'll have the power distribution box, like you have, behind the air cleaner, so space is tight and I'll probably use the later reservoir as well.