Just curios if there are any tuning options available for a 92 460 truck or would converting to an OBDII computer be necessary? Ive found applications for 92 5.8 trucks, are the computers between these two engines similar enough to function on a 460? Any info is appreciated.

 

Excellent question ! I just bought a 97' F-350 with the 460, it kicks butt ! however like yourself, I'm also curious about tuning options, and performance up-grades (spark plugs, thermostat, etc..)

 

If you are comfortable and understand how to tune a vehicle, you can also do this yourself. There are several software programs available, that “Speak Common English” that will allow you to tune your vehicles ECM. One company is HP Tuners, they have a website….they offer two core programs, one for those who are doing dyno tuning and one for the home-garage mechanic (which is priced at about the same as most of the “canned tunes on the market) …this version limits the span of adjustments as a safeguard against doing something outside of the oem scope……basically, keeps you from doing something “too stupid by accident” (grin). They also have adapters through affiliates for burning chips for pre-obd vehicles- but you must have an understanding of how/why you are adjusting fuel mixture and ignition timing.

 

The basic idea of a tune is accessing the PCM and programming it to do what you need. There are many PCMs you can use tune and run your truck, it is based on the engine/trans combination you have.

I have a 92 and my stock setup was SD (Speed Density). I converted to MASS Air, which is what comes in most mustangs, so I have an 89 5.0 mustang computer running my truck and I tune it. I don't have experience with SD to know if you can tune that because it's a pretty basic system. I do see a "Speed Density" tab in EECAnalyzer (software from internets) but I am not sure what to do with it.

You can use tuners like QuarterHorse or Tweecer to access the PCM in order to write a tune, there are a few pieces of software and many forums that help you with tuning.

More?

 

I'm looking into doing a build. I have a 96 f250 5.8 looking to swap in a 1968 429 built motor pushing 500 hp. I am planing on getting a parts 460 truck in my year and just using everything from that truck as far as fuel injection pcm harness etc... Beings that it is NOT a stock motor the pcm wIll need some serious tuning.... Any advice on what or how to do this?

 

Assumimg you are not mass air now...Yeah, so you'll need to tune the motor assuming the '68 I'll be efi. also, if your truck is odb1 or odb2, that'll make a difference as well. oh, manual or auto trans?

after you answer those questions then do this:

get the parts to convert to mass air, if manual trans then use the A9L or A9P strategy (if odb1 ).

if you will want to adjust the tune and not just get a one time tune on a chip, get a quarterhorse RT, whatever the newest version is. Tune this with with free software or software you buy, I can help you with getting your tune dialed in if you are doing it yourself.

 

Plans is to take the efi system off of the parts truck. I will be going with a manual trans. It is obd1 what parts will I need to convert to mas air? I am experienced with these trucks but I am new to all this tuning stuff. Want to get this part of the build squared away before beginning it. Looking for the most cost efficient but also getting the most out of the motor. Best bang for you buck kind of thing. Is there a way to tune the pcm in the parts truck? I'm assuming all of the other parts from the parts truck with bolt up seeing how a 460 and 429 are essentially the same.

 

If you have any questions or need help with anything, just ask...You should start with:

<ol>
<li>For over 500HP, you will need a slot style sensor, like this <a href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/2004-2010-Ford-4-6L-Cold-Air-Calibrated-Slot-Style-Mass-Air-Sensor-/390511695794?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories &amp;hash=item5aec4f97b2&amp;vxp=mtr">http://www.ebay.com/itm/2004-2010-Ford-4-6L-Cold-Air-Calibrated-Slot-Style-Mass-Air-Sensor-/390511695794?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories &amp;hash=item5aec4f97b2&amp;vxp=mtr</a></li>
<li>You will also need a pigtail for the sensor <a href="http://www.blueovalchips.com/index.php?l=product_detail&amp;p=242">http://www.blueovalchips.com/index.php?l=product_detail&amp;p=242</a>
<ol style="list-style-type:lower-alpha;">
<li>Note it has 6 wires.&nbsp; You will only use 4, they connect just as the older style sensor would.&nbsp; Also, these sensors have IAT (intake air temperature) and some people like to use this instead of the IAC &ndash; DON&rsquo;T!!!!</li>
</ol>
</li>
<li>Housing for the sensor, if you don&rsquo;t have something and are going to make it, you can start with something like this <a href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/3-5-OD-MAF-slot-style-housing-fits-Nissan-Ford-Mazda-Infiniti-/251728876104?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories &amp;hash=item3a9c35d248&amp;vxp=mtr">http://www.ebay.com/itm/3-5-OD-MAF-slot-style-housing-fits-Nissan-Ford-Mazda-Infiniti-/251728876104?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories &amp;hash=item3a9c35d248&amp;vxp=mtr</a>
<ol style="list-style-type:lower-alpha;">
<li>Note: the flange that is welded on top is also sold separately. if you have something else, you will need a flange or something to keep the sensor steady</li>
</ol>
</li>
<li>Computer <a href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/1986-2001-MUSTANG-ENGINE-COMPUTER-REPAIR-SERVICE-A9L-A9P-24-HOUR-TURN-AROUND-/271118226714?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories &amp;hash=item3f1fe7d51a&amp;vxp=mtr">http://www.ebay.com/itm/1986-2001-MUSTANG-ENGINE-COMPUTER-REPAIR-SERVICE-A9L-A9P-24-HOUR-TURN-AROUND-/271118226714?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories &amp;hash=item3f1fe7d51a&amp;vxp=mtr</a>
<ol style="list-style-type:lower-alpha;">
<li>I like this company because of their warranty, I have used them for a while and would recommend them.</li>
</ol>
</li>
<li>Fuel harness <a href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/86-87-93-Ford-Mustang-Fuel-Injector-Harness-EFI-Mass-Air-SSP-GT-LX-/121533342531?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories &amp;hash=item1c4bf3a343&amp;vxp=mtr">http://www.ebay.com/itm/86-87-93-Ford-Mustang-Fuel-Injector-Harness-EFI-Mass-Air-SSP-GT-LX-/121533342531?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories &amp;hash=item1c4bf3a343&amp;vxp=mtr</a>
<ol style="list-style-type:lower-alpha;">
<li>If you want help or information on making your own, I can help there</li>
</ol>
</li>
<li>O2 sensors (narrow band) &ndash; this PCM has two inputs for two separate O2 sensors.&nbsp; One for driver&rsquo;s side and the other for passenger side.&nbsp; I suggest you install two if you don&rsquo;t have that many now.&nbsp; You can make one O2 sensor work for both PCM inputs but I wouldn&rsquo;t suggest it.</li>
<li>Wideband O2 &ndash; I would suggest you get and install one of these, for someone starting out with tuning, it greatly helps in tuning and you will always use once you have it.&nbsp; I have the LC1 but if you buy one, get the LC2 <a href="http://www.innovatemotorsports.com/products/lc2.php">http://www.innovatemotorsports.com/products/lc2.php</a>.&nbsp;
<ol style="list-style-type:lower-alpha;">
<li>Note:&nbsp; several things to note here.&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>

<p style="margin-left:1.5in;">i.First, you will benefit from installing this permanently to its own bung as close to the middle as possible for both exhausts coming off the motor.</p>

<p style="margin-left:1.5in;">ii.If you plan to not use your EGR port, you can set it up so that the wideband will come through your normal data log with the quarterhorse (this is handy)</p>

<p style="margin-left:1.5in;">iii.If you don&rsquo;t get an innovate sensor, get one that is popular so it will integrate with data logging and tuning software.</p>

<ol>
<li value="8">Quarterhorse RT &ndash; the &ldquo;RT&rdquo; version allows you to log the data from the motor.</li>
<li value="9">Software
<ol style="list-style-type:lower-alpha;">
<li>&ldquo;TunerPro &ndash; free</li>
<li>&ldquo;Binary Editor&rdquo; &ndash; not free</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>

You can find people selling conversion kits with most of the critical parts if you search on ebay.

Questions?

 

Wow!! That is much more involved than I was hoping for... I was hoping just to swap everything over in terms of efi from the parts truck harnesses, pcm, intakes etc.. Get some better injectors to support 500 hp and slap a chip or something into the pcm.... Had no idea it was that involved. Truck is 4x4 goal in the end is something somewhat fast but dependable... I don't think I would need to be able to tune it all the time.... Is there an option that would just have it tuned once with the parts trucks efi system and be done?

 

Yeah making a 500hp engine work with the stock EFI system is not going to be trivial, besides it requiring more fuel it will also require double the amount of air. For those with the E4OD trans the most direct route would be to use a Gen1 Lightning PCM with a Tweecer or Quarterhorse. that PCM is supported by the tuner community so it doesn't matter that it was originally programmed for a 5.8 with 19lb injectors, once you have the tuner you can change the CI and injector scalers to anything you want. But tuning is not a 1-shot event it will take a lot of trial and error to get fueling and ignition optimized.. you don't think the factory engineers manage this in one pass do you?

 

you don't need to learn tuning and constantly change your tune. what you could do is get things installed and setup, then take your truck to someone with a dyno, they can either make you a tune or burn you a chip. No, you don't need to constantly tune a motor, only if you want to and/or are changing parts that require a change in the tune

 

So I could hook up all the factory 460 harness and ecu. Get a better intake bigger injectors and fuel pump and than a shop could burn a chip for the factory 460 ecu? I don't have a need nor a want to be able to tune it myself... I'd rather just have the portion successfully done and never touch it again haha...

 

Correct, in fact if you have no interest in tuning, that would be how you do it. Just so you know...a "tune" can be thought of as a set of values and parameters in a file a computer uses. When the "tune" is adjusted, it's really the values that are changing in the file. There is NO difference between a tune for a tuner or a chip, it's the same file that is put on the device. The only difference is a tuner allows you to make changes whenever you want. A chip can't be altered once written. Now, if you had a chip and needed a change, a new chip can be created, but that typically costs you money. I say this because if you have an inclination of wanting to adjust the tune yourself in the future, you might get a tuner now and have someone make you the initial tune on a dyno. Might save you a little money in the long run.

Also remember, you'll need to get this initially tuned on a dyno, not a "driveway" tune. Make sure the person doing the tune can work on an eec-iv pcm, it's pretty popular with mustangs so not hard to find. Lastly, NEVER buy a tune or chip over the internet for any gas motor. Gas motors that need a tune adjustment should first start on a dyno, driveway tuning is fine for making adjustments after that.

 

Okay thank you you helped a lot... It would be nice to be able to tune myself whenever I want to but that list of parts you mentioned earlier is a little too much for me to just be able to tune it. I'd much rather be able to swap in factory harness and ecu and not have to worry about anything else... Also what size injectors and pump should I run with 500hp?

 

I just want to be clear...you need all the parts I mentioned to do this upgrade, your only choice is use a tuner or a chip.

There are calculators online to calculate what size injector is needed for a certain hp. I think for 500hp you need 39lbs/hr. Good rule of thumb is to go a size larger than you need so you don't max out the injector all the time (no harm in going larger because you are going to adjust the tune for it and the price per each is still about the same). So that would mean 42lbs/hr but I've heard that rate doesn't perform well. So now you're in the same bucket as I am...I bought Siemens deka 60lbs/hr, I've heard they perform good and I have not had issues with them.