Upgrade to Hot Rod
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 133
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From: TX
Upgrade to Hot Rod
Hey Guys & Gals out there in radio land! Hope you got your thinking caps on cause I got a doozy of a question!!!
I have an ol' 85 F150 that I have had for the last 19-20 years. I have always kept her as original as possible (minus the 2" lift on the rear end). But now the kids are going off to college and I am hoping to have some more time to mess with her, so I got to dreaming.....
Her original build is a V-8 302 windsor EFI w/EEC 4 for a brain and a C6 transmission. Type N for most parts catalogs.
I would like to rebuild her as a hot rod and replace the EEC 4 with something better, more tweek-able, like a 95 mustang or similar setup.
Has anyone ever done this before?
I am fairly certain the engine wiring harness will need to be re-built/re-wired but do I also have to replace the upper part of top-end intake also? Or just swap the whole intake for the mustang 2 piece intake?
Any ideas, input, and special thoughts are welcome
Thank for your help!
Daddy-O & Blue
I have an ol' 85 F150 that I have had for the last 19-20 years. I have always kept her as original as possible (minus the 2" lift on the rear end). But now the kids are going off to college and I am hoping to have some more time to mess with her, so I got to dreaming.....
Her original build is a V-8 302 windsor EFI w/EEC 4 for a brain and a C6 transmission. Type N for most parts catalogs.
I would like to rebuild her as a hot rod and replace the EEC 4 with something better, more tweek-able, like a 95 mustang or similar setup.
Has anyone ever done this before?
I am fairly certain the engine wiring harness will need to be re-built/re-wired but do I also have to replace the upper part of top-end intake also? Or just swap the whole intake for the mustang 2 piece intake?
Any ideas, input, and special thoughts are welcome
Thank for your help!
Daddy-O & Blue
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 3,948
Likes: 509
From: Edmond, OK
You can get an aftermarket wiring harness for engine swaps. If you just want to change the top end of your motor it might be easier splicing into the existing harness though.
https://www.ronfrancis.com/
https://www.ronfrancis.com/
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 453
Likes: 19
From: Little Rock, AR
Ted Jenkins with Tuning Innovations (https://tuning-innovations.ueniweb.com/#header) is well-known as "the man" when it comes to the 1994-5 Mustangs. You would probably want to find a 1994-5 Mustang in the salvage yard and pull the whole wiring harness from computer in the passenger floorboard to the engine harness.
MegaSquirt is a popular swap for 1994-5 Mustang owners, too, because it is better/more tunable than the factory computer.
I also have had a good experience with a good old Edelbrock Vic Jr (mildly ported/matched) and Holley Sniper EFI on my 1995 Mustang. It made 618tq at 4800 RPM/635hp at 6500 RPM on a 10.8:1 427w I just had built.
MegaSquirt is a popular swap for 1994-5 Mustang owners, too, because it is better/more tunable than the factory computer.
I also have had a good experience with a good old Edelbrock Vic Jr (mildly ported/matched) and Holley Sniper EFI on my 1995 Mustang. It made 618tq at 4800 RPM/635hp at 6500 RPM on a 10.8:1 427w I just had built.
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,966
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From: Virginia
The 95 is more tunable? I didn't think any Ford fuel injection was very tuner friendly without spending a bunch of money. And still not getting every feature you would need. I keep looking at the megasquirt, they do sell plug and play ones for Fords. But there is still going to be a steep learning curve, for me anyway.
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2010
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From: TX
Sweet! I will definitely start looking into the mega-squirt setup.
And it does not have to be a 95 mustang, but so far all my reading has led me to that being the most affordable & reliable for what I would like to do.
Obviously I am trying to keep my engine and reuse as much as possible, but its getting to that point, and I was planning on a re-wire anyways.
Ya know them gremlins seem to be multiplying!
Thank you very much for your help & insight!!
And it does not have to be a 95 mustang, but so far all my reading has led me to that being the most affordable & reliable for what I would like to do.
Obviously I am trying to keep my engine and reuse as much as possible, but its getting to that point, and I was planning on a re-wire anyways.
Ya know them gremlins seem to be multiplying!
Thank you very much for your help & insight!!
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 453
Likes: 19
From: Little Rock, AR
The 95 is more tunable? I didn't think any Ford fuel injection was very tuner friendly without spending a bunch of money. And still not getting every feature you would need. I keep looking at the megasquirt, they do sell plug and play ones for Fords. But there is still going to be a steep learning curve, for me anyway.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 133
Likes: 1
From: TX
Wow! Well I wasn't thinking of going too far, Heck I thought of just replacing the ECU with the mustangs and see if it would adjust a bit, but I dont want to jack up my engine just yet. I need her running still.
I definitely would like to plan for a better cam and heads (ported & polished) loud/aggressive mufflers and some more basic upgrades once i get the engine re-done, so I am still reading on the MegaSquirt Franklin. It is not off the table yet.
I just don't know of any other "bolt on" type way to get away from the EEC4 that is cost effective. All the really kool stuff adds up quick and I'd like to stick with EFI (& original dash) since I believe that is why the original engine has lasted so long & is still running today.
(Again still got to get the other kid off to college, so its all research & planning)
But yea guys, the brainstorming is helping!
Thanks!!!
I definitely would like to plan for a better cam and heads (ported & polished) loud/aggressive mufflers and some more basic upgrades once i get the engine re-done, so I am still reading on the MegaSquirt Franklin. It is not off the table yet.
I just don't know of any other "bolt on" type way to get away from the EEC4 that is cost effective. All the really kool stuff adds up quick and I'd like to stick with EFI (& original dash) since I believe that is why the original engine has lasted so long & is still running today.
(Again still got to get the other kid off to college, so its all research & planning)
But yea guys, the brainstorming is helping!
Thanks!!!
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Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,958
Likes: 105
From: Houston
Hey Guys & Gals out there in radio land! Hope you got your thinking caps on cause I got a doozy of a question!!!
I have an ol' 85 F150 that I have had for the last 19-20 years. I have always kept her as original as possible (minus the 2" lift on the rear end). But now the kids are going off to college and I am hoping to have some more time to mess with her, so I got to dreaming.....
Her original build is a V-8 302 windsor EFI w/EEC 4 for a brain and a C6 transmission. Type N for most parts catalogs.
I would like to rebuild her as a hot rod and replace the EEC 4 with something better, more tweek-able, like a 95 mustang or similar setup.
Has anyone ever done this before?
I am fairly certain the engine wiring harness will need to be re-built/re-wired but do I also have to replace the upper part of top-end intake also? Or just swap the whole intake for the mustang 2 piece intake?
Any ideas, input, and special thoughts are welcome
Thank for your help!
Daddy-O & Blue
I have an ol' 85 F150 that I have had for the last 19-20 years. I have always kept her as original as possible (minus the 2" lift on the rear end). But now the kids are going off to college and I am hoping to have some more time to mess with her, so I got to dreaming.....
Her original build is a V-8 302 windsor EFI w/EEC 4 for a brain and a C6 transmission. Type N for most parts catalogs.
I would like to rebuild her as a hot rod and replace the EEC 4 with something better, more tweek-able, like a 95 mustang or similar setup.
Has anyone ever done this before?
I am fairly certain the engine wiring harness will need to be re-built/re-wired but do I also have to replace the upper part of top-end intake also? Or just swap the whole intake for the mustang 2 piece intake?
Any ideas, input, and special thoughts are welcome
Thank for your help!
Daddy-O & Blue
Your best bet if you do this is buy the Holley Terminator X which is a complete ECU and wiring harness upgrade for Foxbody mustangs and now you have the ability to plug and play your laptop into it for tuning.
Holley EFI 550-937F Terminator X Fox Body Mustang 5.0 EFI Kit
It is a bit pricy but it will give you more tunability and you can use OE EFI components off a foxbody mustang. I looked at this as a possible upgrade for my truck but decided on the Sniper Stealth 4150 as I just am not a fan of the foxbody style intake plenum and valve cover height being limited.
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