Ok new here ... I'm pretty forum savy and post in multiple forums. Understand the search engine idea ... and I have.


Unfortunately I have not found out the information I am looking for.

About me:
I am the GM of Amber Racing Services ... we sell racing fuel (VP and F&L). Been there since 2008. Previous to that I worked for Mercedes-Benz USA, Master Guild Technician ... 20 some years (so I'm kinda familiar with wrenching on vehicles)


What I am looking for:
I have purchased a 1996 Bronco with 223k miles, engine has a rod knock. Looking at the option to swap out the engine from a 5.0 to the 5.8.


My question:
I have found lots of threads on the issue ... but they are different year swaps over to the 1996 roller it appears. As well as the fact that the 1996 is a MAF engine and the previous years are not?

Does the 5.0 ECU and wiring harness cross over to the 5.8, or are they different?


I understand that they are completely different with regards to intakes & exhaust manifolds, etc ... I'm just wondering if this is a huge task or if it's as simple as heading out and finding a complete donor engine and then using the long block as a core for a crate engine.


Any advice here will be appreciated.


Thanks,
Brian

 

The existing engine harness in that truck will plug right in on a 5.8 but you need a '96 5.8 from a 1/2 ton truck(F-series or Bronco) because there are a couple unique for '96 parts on it that you won't find in any other year and these same parts are also unique between 5.0 and 5.8 motors meaning the 5.0 parts you already have will not transfer to the 5.8.

The unique parts are the DPFE EGR tube and the crank balancer with tone ring.

Alternatively, you could use any '94+ 5.0 longblock and get the truck back on the road, under all the intake and accessory parts the basic truck motor was the same from '94 on.

 

Perfect ... thank you.


I am assuming that the 5.0 and 5.8 use the same ECU?


I have found a good running 5.8 @ the local truck wrecking yard out of a F150, just want to have them pull everything I need prior to picking up so I don't have to run back and forth.


Also have found a source for the crate 5.8 long block.


Any other advice that'll save me time? I'm pretty methodical about things, like to just get after things and get them done once I start.


I will start a thread and document the whole process once I am finished.

 

No they are not the same computers (PCM/ECM), but there is enough adaptability to compensate for the difference in cubic inches.


Is that donor from a 1996 F150?


Unless you have a complete 5.8L donor I would not go down that path. As noted before there are some unique external parts for a 1996 F150/Bronco engine.


Get as much of a complete engine from a 1996 F150/Bronco that you can. Sourcing small parts may take a lot of time and extra money.

 

Thanks Randy ...


yes, it's a running 1996 F150 with a 5.8. I have asked if I can assist removing the engine complete (trying to use the whole "I'll help your guy to save you labor costs" approach)


I will grab the ECU/PCM out of the truck if I can, I've seen aftermarket ones as well (not really sure they are worth the money over stock) ... just trying to do my homework up front.


My biggest concern was wiring harness and ECU compatibility ... making sure that the 96 5.0 and 96 5.8 harnesses were the same. I know I need a COMPLETE 5.8 because intake/exhaust/bracketry/etc will be different.

 

Keep the harness already in the truck. Do not use the one from the other vehicle unless absolutely necessary. Since it is from the same model year it should be close/same, but try to keep what you have first.

If you can snag the 5.8L PCM, you are golden but the 5L will learn how to run the 5.8L over a short period of time. The biggest issue with the 96s is sourcing the DPFE EGR pieces and the misfire detector/ harmonic balancer tone ring. A complete donor 5.8L puts you ahead of the game.

 

I would stick with the 5.0 there will always be many more of them available. When I had to get my 5.8 swapped it cost me more and the engine isn't exactly low mileage (110,000). Sounds like you are more mechanically savy and have resources I don't have though so do what you want if it makes you happy!

 

Not exactly the same, as I got a 5.8 from a 1996 E250 and put it into my 1994 5.0 truck. I might offer a couple of tips though.
Your donor truck probably has an E4OD transmission where you have a 4R70W. That precludes any idea of swapping computers. The 5.0 PCM will run a 5.8 but not that transmission. Unless you have an E4OD already. Rare, but possible.
Assuming you have a 4R70W, do NOT use either flexplate. You need a different one. Buy one for a 1991 Crown Victoria with a 5.8 (police car). A Pioneer brand one from a local parts store runs about $60. The 5.8 one will have the wrong offset and the 5.0 one the wrong imbalance weight.
Grab the crossover Y-pipe from the donor truck if you can. The 5.8 is a bit wider and taller, enough to where your 5.0 y-pipe won't fit.
I don't know about your years specifically, but on mine the knock sensor was on the rear of the 5.0 block and in the middle of the intake of the 5.8. That's the one bit of wiring I had to cut and paste. The rest was just plug and play.
I got my engine from a pick-n-pull so had no way at all to test it. I bought it thinking of using it for all the swap bits it had and rebuilding it. However after studying it, it seemed like it might be pretty healthy. So I changed a few gaskets and gave it a shot. Some four years later it's STILL a happy camper, and I've not been particularly nice to it. Just suggesting you give that used engine a shot before go all in on a fresh one. Once you've swapped the engines it'll be twice as easy to swap the 5.8 later if need be. You'll already be familiar with the territory to start with and you won't have any of the 5.0 swap business to deal with the second time around. IF you need to swap a second time.

 

GypsyR, He has a 96 bronco which would be an E4OD. the donor truck also would have an E4OD.

bronco's never came with the 4r70w.

like said, reuse your 5.0 harness and computer unless you can locate the correct 5.8/E4od OBDII ecu. the knock sensor can be tied up out of the way since the 5.8 never used that. the y pipe will need swapped like mentioned above. use the 5.8 flexplate etc.. frankly leave everything bolted to the 5.8.

 

GypsyR your swap was significantly different so it's not directly comparable, there are unique OBD2 issues with this swap that you didn't encounter since both your truck and the donor were OBD1.


Ahh.. nope, the 5.8 doesn't have a knock sensor, that thing in the middle of the lower intake was the IAT sensor.

 

Good thing I didn't actually hook it up then I expect. Really, I didn't. I was going to...for some reason I thought it was like a 4.6 knock sensor. Since I had a the correct drill and tap from a previous 5.0-5.0 swap. I just drilled and tapped at the right rear of the block. Which was NOT easy as the 5.8 doesn't have the same handy "ledge" for it.
So basically the two most knowledgeable small block Ford truck guys I know of are telling me to shut up, quit confusing the man, and move along? Aye, aye, captains.