I'm looking to run an EDIS 8 setup on my '78 460 until I can afford to go with a coil on plug setup. I'm planning on running a megasquirt and they recommend a 36-1 crank trigger wheel to control the timing. I was wondering if any of you guys had this setup, and if so...could you tell me about it and maybe snap a pic for me. Thanks. Also, does anyone know if the late 80's & 90's EFI 460's had a crank trigger and what type it is. Thanks in advance.

 

No the EFI engines were still standard distributor.

 

Thanks for the info monsterbaby, I appreciate the info. I have been coming up with ideas on how to fab one up for myself. I think the best idea I've had is to start out with a blank trigger wheel and machine the center to the diameter of the balancer spacer and attach it there.

 

Found this on the net.

Ford EDIS technical information - Autosport Labs

Shows you how to position the missing tooth in relation to the pick up.

And the guy was using a Ford edis-4 to on a Toyota engine

 

Thanks Dialtone! That's a really a great page with clear illustrations.

 

A source I got one from was a 1996 T-bird 3.8L V6. Mustangs used the same engine. It is an external tone wheel. I contemplated a setup on my 86 460, but all of the Ford COP setups use a short plug "wire" that really doesn't bend. GM units have the driver module in the coil. I want to stay with Ford components since I will also be using an E4OD befind it. Maybe one day I can go to a DIS system.

 

Thanks 85lebaront2. I'm going to be sourcing a cam sensor from one of those engines and machine up an adapter to fit it to the 460. As for the crank sensor, I'm basically going to be copying this guys setup:

Custom 60-2 Trigger Wheel & Crank Sensor - The Forums at Chevy Talk

Only, instead of cutting the spacer, I'm going to machine down the fat end of mine, and make a lip so that it will be centralized when I weld it on. I got the wheel for $25 shipped from an eBay seller.

I've done some research on the Chevrolet coils and that's what I'm going to end up using since I can make my own wires for them and they have logic level inputs. The ls2 and ls truck coils with the heatsinks on them are the more desirable ones.

I'm still up in the air about what tranny to use. I have a rebuilt c6 laying around, but don't know how a kickdown cable would work with a custom efi setup...more to think about in the future...I may break down and buy a tko600 and go that route.

 

You're welcome for the information, mine came off a T-bird I scrapped.

For the kickdown cable, try Lokar, they make a lot of custom cables.

What is a tko600?

I still need to have a computer that runs the E4OD and not have to buy another complete setup like Bauman builds. My main purpose in this is to improve starting and running, especially starting after sitting, and hopefully better fuel economy. At least mine came with the Holley, not the Motorcraft 4300D.

Good luck with your project!

 

85lebaront2:

In some of my trolling the net, I recall reading somewhere (can't rember exactly where) that some of the Ford diesel trucks that were equipped with E4OD transmissions had a stand alone transmission control box. I was thinking about locating one of those and adapting it to the 460/E4OD combination for a project 68 T-Bird. Seems like it is not a perfect solution, but would be less expensive than an after market transmission control system.
You may want to check out this option.

Dialtone

 

Dialtone, one of the fellows on TwEEcer has done that with a carbureted 302. He found a number of interesting issues. The diesel E4OD controller uses the injection pump drive gear teeth for RPM pickup. It is a 100 tooth gear, so 50 teeth per crank revolution. He had to come up with a multiplier. He and I have corresponded via email for quite a while. Other issue is, pre 92 trucks used a speedometer gear speed sensor, in 92 Ford went to the ABS tone ring and the electronic speedometer with the piggybacked module. I had thought of that option to retain the carburetor on mine.

 

I haven't really decided what to do about the tranny, the E4OD is an option, but since I have some c6's laying around, I'll probably go that route at first. The TKO600 is a manual transmission that's about $3k with everything needed...pretty much my dream setup.

As far as mounting the trigger wheel goes, I'll be posting up pics and measurements as soon as I get it done...hopefully the trigger wheel will be in sometime this week. I have a tig setup I used on another project, basically a big pot that's hooked up to an electric motor that spins a lathe chuck with a tig torch held above it so that I can make perfect welds around something. If i'm unable to weld to the spacer, I'll just fab one up out of steel or aluminum, good thing we just invested in a keyway cutter. I'll be sure and post pics.

 

Thanks for the good info and links. I am in the process of going with the EDIS set up on my 460 and this will help. I am going to stick with the 36-1 wheel as opposed to the 60-2 though. Here is a source that I am going to get mine from if interested

36-1 Tooth Variable Reluctor (VR) Wheel Ford EDIS : eBay Motors (item 230350969464 end time Sep-14-10 20:54:51 PDT)

 

@ jarod17: That guy makes a good wheel and ships it to you quick...I just got mine from him a couple days ago. I'm hoping to get mine mounted up pretty soon and will post pics. Make sure you post up how you did it if you get yours installed before mine. I've still got to wait a little while before I make my sensor mount since my engine has to go back and get hot tanked thanks to some dirt dobbers.

 

Thanks for that info. I have had this on my watch list for a while waiting for my bank account to settle down. I will likely be buying mine this month.

I will likely be making my bracket the same time I build a throttle cable bracket.

 

Don't know if this is a option, I'm eyeing one of these myself...

Compu-Tronix. Electronic Ignition Systems