i currently have some minor external mods done to my 95 f-150 4x4 with a speed density 351 and was told that i through my money in the wind since i did not change my computer chip. i myself have seen great improvement (except for the throttle body spacer) of the mods ive put on it and can definatly feel more power.

well if thats so, i plan on changing some internal mods like cam and heads whenever i need to rebuild and was wondering can i keep my speed density system or would a maf system be better? i dont plan on making 400+ hp or anything but would like around 350 hp and 400 fp of torque for nasty off road power but not so much that my modified e40d cant handle.

i have read numerous post of people trying to convert sd to maf and have read very few good results and a ton of headaches.

from what ive gathered and i could be wrong about all this but the stock sd system will adj for minor changes but not major like (cam and heads) and if major internal mods are done, a custom chip must be burned to match the system and will compensate for small changes (like air cleaners and exhaust componets) but nothing major............makes sense.

on the other hand, maf system would adj to minor external mods as well as internal mods to the max flow of the maf sensor itself w/o the custom chip being burned. and if flow exceeds the sensor then a custom chip and new sensor must be added. so it could get costly if flow exceeds maf sensor.

so both systems must have somthing custom matched to the changes being made but which one is better??? which one is cheaper???? does anyone know the pros and cons of the two???

snappy throttle response would be great along with an extra 150 hp and 100 fp of torque, can my sd system do that???

 

Good question - I have a similar one, although I'm running a '94 2WD 460. While it's not impossible, it would be a major undertaking to convert our vehicles to MAF - in addition to hardware difficulties, there's no calibration that exists for our applications; a MAF system still needs a baseline calibration for each particular application.

Anyhow, I'm trying to contact Superchips to get their advice. I'm sure they'll tell me a custom chip would be in order, but I'll ask them if they can whip up a special calibration given my particular mod.s. Their email doesn't seem to work, so I'll have to wait to call tech supt on Monday. . .

 

I'm not sure if the 460 ever came from the factory with a mass-air computer. I'm not sure about the 351 either, but the 302 did in 95, along with the E4OD, and should operate the 351 just fine. The E4OD will be an obstacle for any aftermarket mass-air conversion, but if you find a factory mass-air computer from a truck with the 302 and E4OD, then the swap would be very straightforward. You'll have to flow quite a bit of air to outflow a mass air meter. If you need something bigger than the factory MAF, Pro-M makes replacements that are calibrated for each specific application - they have one for both 302 trucks and 351 trucks. They custom calibrate each unit before they ship them out. It shouldn't be any problem running a 302 mass air computer on a 351 because it runs the engine based on air flow, not a specific calibration for engine size. The 460 may be a different story though. I'm sure a mass-air swap can be done, but I don't know if there are nearly as many resources as for the 302 and 351. I think it would be a one of a kind job and would take lots of time and effort to get it right. Mass-air can accomodate many modifications before a chip has to be burned for it - much more than speed density systems.

There are also high performance vehicles using speed density systems as well. If you know what your modifications are, you can contact a company like Superchips, tell them what modifications you have, and they can burn a chip specifically for your vehicle. It may actually be less expensive to have a chip burned than to try to track down everything for a mass-air conversion, depending on how many different times you have a chip burned. If you know exactly what you plan to do, and get everything installed on your truck, burn a chip once, I think it will probably be less expensive in the long run, but that is just what I think, I don't know that for sure.

 

Keeping SD can be done, theres a guy on here with a 351 lightning and does 12s or something in the 1/4 and it's still SD. They do make SD friendly cams, but to change heads you'd have to use a custom chip to re-map everything. MAF is a more effient way to make power, and they were available in 95-96 on 302 and 351 automatic vehicles.

 

If you're going to go thru the hassles of converting to a MAF sytem. You'd prolly be much better served by going with a stand alone engine management system. Like http://www.sdsefi.com/ or similar. It'd cost a little more, but the added benefits of being able to tune it yourself would more than make up for the cost. 'specially if you want to tune it for torque!

 

well it was my understanding that in 96 ford went with the eec-v system instead of the eec-iv like i have and there are somthing like 40+wires with the new system from a 96 so plug in go would be a problem even with the trans because of more wires. even ford is misleading at times and really doesn't know what to do except for a maf upgrade but the only one i can find is for a 302 and a manual trany. they sell the kit in jegs for around $600 for that very purpose. im leaning torwards the custom chip thing myself and think thats the best route so far. even then i would have to get another chip burned every time i upgrade so i would need to do it all at once to save me the hastle. but im a ford lover and i only got 100k and the truck still runs with the mods like it was new, and i know i can get 300k out of this truck so im gonna be waiting a long time.

 

Yo can get a MAS conversion kit from Summit . Give them a call.

 

The FMS MAF conversion kits don't work with the E4OD transmission, unless you get a kit for a lightning and modify it. The lightning kit is more expensive to begin with, plus you would have to buy a couple things in addition to the kit to get it to work right (mainly the y-pipe in the intake). '96 and up are eec-v, so I'd stay away from that. '95 should be MAF from the factory at least on the 302's, I'm not sure about the 351. If you could find a '95 in a junkyard (either 302 or 351, it shouldn't matter, as long as it's mass-air and has an E4OD) and pirate the parts you need off of it, I think that would be the best way to get mass-air.

 

The E4OD tranny is the road block to an easy conversion to MAF. If you find that you absolutely need MAF, then EPNCSU2006 is right, finding a 94/95 MAF equipped 351 with the e4OD at a junkyard will be your best bet. SD can hold up to a lot, as long as the computer is equipped to know what to expect. That's the main difference between MAF and SD. MAF adjusts to changes as they happen, whereas SD is setup with certain expectations, and when they're not there...... I'd do as previously suggested, and do your mods, then either find a shop that can custom burn you a chip or call one of the many chip manufacturers and talk to them about it. They'll be MORE than happy to help ya out.

 

Cameron - Here's the answer I got from Superchips (for my 460 anyway.)

*********

Sorry to inform you that we cannot custom program speed density. If you converted it to Mass-Air I can help you.

Brian Mcmahan
Sales/CSR/Tech
Superchips Inc.
BMcmahan@Superchips.com
888-227-2447 Ex> 7111
Fax (407) 571-3841

Looks like you may have to go the mass-air route after all! What a bummer for me -- I do not have time or $$ to open that can of worms!

 

well i have a 95 351 with speed density. my friends 96 302 has maf w/a automatic e4od but its a eec-v sytem and has a lot more wires. i would like maf but dont wanna have to put a single throttle body set up cuz itll really cost me then. ill see what i can find...............maybee 95 late they made maf instead of sd so it wont be so bad and still had the twin throttle body. i cant believe you cant get a chip for speed density???? why would you need a custom chip if maf will recognize changes???

i wish i could find a sd guru that has done this and knows exactly what to do...........i'll call my budy that works with parting out wrecked vehicles and see if hes got a 95 maf system i can pick up for cheap.

 

Head over to the "computer chip" forum and ask some questions/do some research there about chips, I bet you'll find a company that can burn you chips.

 

You dont have to put a single tb on your truck. Buy the tubes from ford to go from dual to single. I did a maf conversion on mine. the y adapter and single tube are $105 give or take. I have pics I can email you if needed. When I changed EEC I had to repin some wires to the correct location on the new EEC.