Motor swap 5.0L HO or Non HO
Be carefull with a motor swap to a 5.0L HO engine without a computer swap. The non-HO computer (usually in a truck) will not run an HO motor properly. The timing advancment and injection sequencing, MAS etc are not the same .(The computers and sensors are different.)
I found this out the hard way when I put an HO built motor in my truck without an HO computer and wiring harness,. It was easier (cheaper) to change the cam back to a NON HO instead. Usually stick with a stock cam as well unless you are prepared to make some serious computer and sensor upgrades.

Regards
Bruce P

 

SO????? Since I didn't make the swap, could part of my performance problems be an HO computer with a non HO engine if so how can I tell the differance? Could this affect the Tach? any advice would help

Chuck

 

That won't affect the tach. All the truck electronics can run an HO mustang motor. It might have a problem with the cam, it might not. If you are running the stock computer, then it's not HO. HO 302's were only in cars, never in the trucks - at least they weren't labeled as such. The tach gets signal from the negative terminal of the coil, so it has to be either a problem in the wiring from the coil to the dash, or a problem in the dash itself.

 

Fordater
You mentioned the motor put in the Bronco was a VIN for a 5.0L HO. So I assume you have a 5.0 L HO installed in your truck. As mentioned buy the previous memo from "EPNCSU2006" HO computers were never installed in Ford trucks . These truck computers will run an HO motor but will run it differently and not very well.
WHY?: There is a difference in the timing advancement for the both the spark control and the fuel injection sequencing built into the HO computer due to the HO cam. (It has to due with the longer duration of the cam in HO motors). Therefore Truck computers would not do a very go job running an HO motor.
It will run but run rough at idle and use much more fuel at idle. Also it will not reach its full horse power potential due to these slight variances in the compters by not timing the spark and and fuel injection for the HO engine.
Best fix is to change the cam back to a stock NON HO cam. You should first confirm the computer system is the original truck system for a NON HO cam. This can be done by reading the serial number on the computer control box and verifying with a Ford dealer on the computer type. Believe me I've been this road.
If you want to change the computer you will need a entire new wiring harness, two O2 sensors and a MAS system to put on the motor, plus the cost of a new computer. The cam is cheaper.
(Possibly the engine swap gave you the O2 sensors (On the lower end of the exhaust from a mustang) and MAS. But you need to check????

Bruce P

 

Just to note, I have heard that a stock HO mustang cam is about the biggest the truck computer can run. I would think that it would be ok, however, like was said earlier, you might not realize the full potential of the motor. I'd leave the stock truck computer though, since it is quite a task to swap to MAF.

 

thanks guys, looks like I've got some investigating to do.
Chuck

 

If you disconnect the spout while the motor is running, it will set a code 18 in your memory. Disconnect the battery for a few second and it should clear the code. If not, you have another problem, maybe a bad spout connector.