Performance 351W EFI
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,926
Likes: 116
From: Saskatchewan Canada
Post #14 for the win!
Pimpx is pretty much a plug and play version of the MicroSquirt controller. If you want to save some bucks, buy the MicroSquirt and wire it up. At any rate, changing out the EECIV controller for something supported like MicroSquirt/Pimpx, MegaSquirt, Holley Terminator, etc. is the way to go. Factory manifolds and EFI components will get along just fine with an aftermarket controller.
Pimpx is pretty much a plug and play version of the MicroSquirt controller. If you want to save some bucks, buy the MicroSquirt and wire it up. At any rate, changing out the EECIV controller for something supported like MicroSquirt/Pimpx, MegaSquirt, Holley Terminator, etc. is the way to go. Factory manifolds and EFI components will get along just fine with an aftermarket controller.
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 297
Likes: 42
What vintage is the engine that you bought? Do you know the block casting number?
As mentioned elsewhere, the biggest bottleneck on these motors is the factory cam, it's so bad that with the early motors('93 and older) it is almost a total waste of time and money to do any other mods until a better cam is swapped in. The E7 heads and stock truck intake are not performance pieces but believe it or not you can have a 275hp motor with nothing but a cam change, and this is possible with the stock EFI system you just have to use a mild cam that produces good vacuum. The Crane 444232 was one such cam that was a popular upgrade on the first gen Lightning, have a look at the specs for it and you will see what I mean. I had that cam in a 5.8 I built for my truck and it did perform very well and ran as smooth as stock... which is what is necessary to work with the stock tune.
If you then add better heads and intake the motor will move lots more air and that will exceed the supply/control limits of the factory fuel system so bigger injectors and pump are necessary, and that in turn requires tuning. There are 2 main options now the Tweecer and Pimpx, a Tweecer is relatively cheap but it is very technical to setup and use, to make the most of it you want pretty good computer skills and it wouldn't hurt if you have an electronics education background as you need to understand how the EEC processor works and the logic behind the programming. The Pimpx is more user friendly, it completely replaces the stock PCM and is natively tunable but the upfront cost is much higher, still I think this may be the better option for anyone that plans on doing successive upgrades.
As mentioned elsewhere, the biggest bottleneck on these motors is the factory cam, it's so bad that with the early motors('93 and older) it is almost a total waste of time and money to do any other mods until a better cam is swapped in. The E7 heads and stock truck intake are not performance pieces but believe it or not you can have a 275hp motor with nothing but a cam change, and this is possible with the stock EFI system you just have to use a mild cam that produces good vacuum. The Crane 444232 was one such cam that was a popular upgrade on the first gen Lightning, have a look at the specs for it and you will see what I mean. I had that cam in a 5.8 I built for my truck and it did perform very well and ran as smooth as stock... which is what is necessary to work with the stock tune.
If you then add better heads and intake the motor will move lots more air and that will exceed the supply/control limits of the factory fuel system so bigger injectors and pump are necessary, and that in turn requires tuning. There are 2 main options now the Tweecer and Pimpx, a Tweecer is relatively cheap but it is very technical to setup and use, to make the most of it you want pretty good computer skills and it wouldn't hurt if you have an electronics education background as you need to understand how the EEC processor works and the logic behind the programming. The Pimpx is more user friendly, it completely replaces the stock PCM and is natively tunable but the upfront cost is much higher, still I think this may be the better option for anyone that plans on doing successive upgrades.
. I'm really glad you brought up that tidbit about the camshaft, and I will add that cam to my project list. I do not want to add upgrades piece by piece. Once I have a completed project list, I will start to accumulate the parts over the next year and install them all at once. Money is tight right now, but I will see if I can reconfigure my project plan to include the Pimpx. In the next day or so I will post here a compiled list of all the parts I need to buy and get your thoughts. Thanks a bunch!Also, I posted earlier that I will have block casting numbers for you tomorrow.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 4,197
Likes: 558
From: Central Wisconsin
Crane is out of business, unless you can find a used 444232, you're SOL. Any other flat tappet is going to be a crapshoot on whether they survive the initial break-in anyhow.
If you're going to tune the ECU, whether it's with tweecer software, PimpX, etc., you're not confined to the same restrictions as if you were using the factory tune, meaning you should source a more aggressive cam than the 444232 anyhow. Ideally you'd start with a roller block (F4TE casting).
Also, those Edelbrock heads you listed are not that great for the money. Look into the AFR Enforcer 185 heads. $1300 assembled.
If you're going to tune the ECU, whether it's with tweecer software, PimpX, etc., you're not confined to the same restrictions as if you were using the factory tune, meaning you should source a more aggressive cam than the 444232 anyhow. Ideally you'd start with a roller block (F4TE casting).
Also, those Edelbrock heads you listed are not that great for the money. Look into the AFR Enforcer 185 heads. $1300 assembled.
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 297
Likes: 42
Crane is out of business, unless you can find a used 444232, you're SOL. Any other flat tappet is going to be a crapshoot on whether they survive the initial break-in anyhow.
If you're going to tune the ECU, whether it's with tweecer software, PimpX, etc., you're not confined to the same restrictions as if you were using the factory tune, meaning you should source a more aggressive cam than the 444232 anyhow. Ideally you'd start with a roller block (F4TE casting).
Also, those Edelbrock heads you listed are not that great for the money. Look into the AFR Enforcer 185 heads. $1300 assembled.
If you're going to tune the ECU, whether it's with tweecer software, PimpX, etc., you're not confined to the same restrictions as if you were using the factory tune, meaning you should source a more aggressive cam than the 444232 anyhow. Ideally you'd start with a roller block (F4TE casting).
Also, those Edelbrock heads you listed are not that great for the money. Look into the AFR Enforcer 185 heads. $1300 assembled.
I have personally wiped a lobe or two on a flat tappet. I did about a thousand things wrong, either way the break in procedure is super stressful. However I will stick with a flat tappet cam for this budget build.
Do you have any cam suggestions (for a flat tappet of course)? I am a bit rusty on my cam terminology so I don’t know what to look for exactly. Just needs to be street-able power that comes on low and ends around 4500-5000. I rarely get up that high now as is.
I will add the AFR enforcers to the list and scratch out the eddie performers, thanks. I still want to try the GT40P though. I found a used set for $200 not far from me. Will need some sprucing up for sure. What do you think?
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 297
Likes: 42
wait wait wait wait… I’m running the stock efi system on this truck. You’re telling me it’s a roller block, so the lifters must be roller lifters?!?! This whole time I thought they were flat tappet! The last motor I had wiped a few lobes, it was flat tappet, stock replacement for a 1990 f-250 with a 351W. I used my warranty to get a new block from them, they must’ve just given me a roller block with roller lifters?
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Tuned
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 297
Likes: 42
well this is great news! definitely cheapens my budget! Truck fund right now is low right now, need to catch up on some needed Maintenance. I do need to take my lower intake off again, it isn’t sealing well. Will be doing that in a few weeks, most likely late July, beginning of August. I’ll let you know what I find. Thanks
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