Another consideration, my truck is a 92 vintage F150 with speed density apparently. What is needed, a computer change, wiring change, how much in headaches if I switch over ? One of my options is a 94 351 engine out of a Bronco, hopefully it already has the MAF with it .... also if I do this an perform upgrades such as gt40 heads, cam, exhaust at what point are programming changes needed in the computer ? I am reading that doing the above upgrades with speed density a bit more difficult as far as reprogramming goes ....

 

What transmission does your truck have? Yes, you'll need to change ecu and wire harness. Or repin your current setup with maf stuff. Pretty straight forward.

With basic bolt ons you don't have to get a tune.

 

Trans is a 5 spd manual. Repin current setup where, what connectors, is there a writeup to explain this ? At what point do you cross over from basic bolt ons to soemthing requiring a tune ?

 

With a manual trans you could use a MAF conversion kit, these aren't as common as they used to be but it is a totally plug and play setup that doesn't require any wiring mods. You can also DIY it using a Muatang computer and MAF meter and wiring components pulled from a MAF truck and installed into the existing harness in your truck. I suggest the Mustang computer over the truck as the available tuners are setup to use that computer so you have a future upgrade path.

So you crossover to something that requires a tune when you exceed the limits of the stock injectors and the ability of the stock computer to adapt. With a MAF computer that is at about 300hp and with an SD truck computer it's a bit lower. And getting to that level isn't that hard, a cam an exhaust on a stock truck motor will pretty much max it out, add heads and intake and you need both a MAF conversion and a tuner.

 

Smart -- SD is fundamentally vintage garbage

 

So you crossover to something that requires a tune when you exceed the limits of the stock injectors and the ability of the stock computer to adapt. With a MAF computer that is at about 300hp and with an SD truck computer it's a bit lower. And getting to that level isn't that hard, a cam an exhaust on a stock truck motor will pretty much max it out, add heads and intake and you need both a MAF conversion and a tuner.[/QUOTE]

Paul:

So, since I am clearly a novice at some of this, how do I go about researching what the cost of a "tuner" is, and determining which are good and bad brands and for the application, simply choose the vehicle as a mustang whatever the computer was originally installed in ? Or does it make sense to simply pay someone who already has this for the programming ? If paying someone, what would be a fair price ? I am starting to sink a few $$ into this truck and looking at a 99 soon, but the bad news the 99 has the 4.6 I suspect I would be happier with the 5.4 if I am contemplating this upgrade on my 92 ....