How much work is it and about how long does it take to install the FMS MAF conversion kit because i'm trying to find room in my schedule to install it, and is there anything i should know in advance before start. Thanks in advance

 

Welcome to FTE!

It takes about 4-5 hours. You'll need a skinny T-40 bit for the middle of the upper intake, you'll also want to take the inner fender off the drivers side to make it easier to remove the computer. It's a pretty simple prodedure. Have another intake gasket handy...and might want to pick up a throttle body gasket too. I removed the TB from the intake to make it easier. Also, inspect all your coolant hoses and vacumm hoses in the area...if they're cracked or bad, it's a good time to replace them.

Keep in mind coolant runs through the TB so be prepaired to have a little spillage.

Also, if you need to replace hoses...don't use fuel line hose for the coolant lines to the TB (rots them).

 

I just finished the conversion. It went very smoothly up until i went to put the upper intake on and dropped that damn torx bolt and had to take it back off to search for it and it added about 20 minutes to it all. But it only took about 3 hours total. It runs great and it is alot more peepy. Thanks alot.

 

Do you feel that the performance is worth the cost? I don't plan any major mods to the engine, just wondering if it helps fuel mileage?

Thanks

 

I think it was worth it. It gets going right when i touch the gas instead of the long pause. i haven't figured out the exact mileage but i could see it's better because my daily 30 mile comute didn't hit the gas guage as hard as it used to. And now that rear tire breaks free alot easier.

 

I installed the FMS conversion kit also. It only took a few hrs.
Well, worth the loot. It also straighten some idle problems I was having.

 

It's an old thread but I can't resist.

I just finished mine and I have to say it was well worth the money and labor. Throttle response is much improved. Idle is around 750 instead of 900. I definately feel more power. Not nite & day but noticable. Maybe as much as 5HP. That's probably due more to previous upgrades (headers, K&N, more free flowing single exhaust) being handled better by the new computer. The best benefit is, I lost the shudder I had when I started moving from a dead stop. I assumed it was the clutch or something. Shifting is awsome now. I used to occasionally grind 3rd because the rpm's wouldn't come down fast enough.

The install wasn't without it's problems. Of course there's the much maligned torx bolt on the upper manifold. I had some trouble getting my torx bit into the bolt enough to keep it from slipping out because of the usual grease & grime in the torx bolts hole. It slipped out the first try and I thought it was all over because I'd stripped the torx head. I tried again but tapped the bit and extension with a hammer to seat it and was able to break it loose.

Scraping the old gasket off was probably the most labor intensive part. The part that had me cussing though, was unplugging the fuel injector plugs. I'm sure there's a special tool to do this but, unless there's some simple trick to it, with regular tools it's a real pain. It took way to long to do something so simple. I bet the engineer who designed that is in the witness relocation program.He sure wasn't a mechanic. Neither am I for that matter. At least not a pro.

One thing the kit doesn't include are the hose clamps for the 2 tubes to connect to the "pants" or y-tube. The old clamps are too big.

Last but not least are the instructions. If you don't have a clue about motors these instructions will leave you hanging. In fact, step 8 of the install procedure was missing. There are diagrams but not in all the places you need them.

I was hesitant to do this upgrade because of the cost, but it feels like I dropped a new (stockish) motor in it. This kit basically converts your severely hobbled truck 5.0L and makes it a 5.0L HO with a different firing order. At least as far as the electronics are concerned. I'll add some pics to my gallery as soon as possible for those interested.

Two thumbs up. <label for="rb_iconid_14"> </label> <label for="rb_iconid_14"></label>

 

I feel it was definitely well worth it, made a big difference on my 302. It's now going to be running my 393ci stroker

 

So you decided to go with the milder stroke. Will you need to reprogram the ECM for the new displacement? Which firing order do you use the 302HO/351 or the 302 truck? Is there another windsor that uses the non-HO truck firing order? How much difference does the firing order make? Concider these questions rhetorical not requiring an answer.

I seem to remember Triumph sold it's design for their early inline 2 cylinder 650cc to Yamaha who promptly turned it from the thumper motor to a smoother motor by alternating the strokes. Instead of both pistons traveling up or down together they cranked them to move opposite one another. The thumper had a lot more torque though(in fact you could get a kit to convert it back to a thumper). I wonder if that isn't what Ford had in mind by changing cams in 5.0L's for the trucks? If so it didn't work.

I've heard a lot of good & bad things about stroking windsors (or any motor for that matter). The bad mostly being shorter engine life especially if you stroke a 5.0L and especially if you don't upgrade to forged pistons. The good being bucket's o' torque.

+Stroke length = +torque.

Unlimited torque would be nice but I drive my truck daily and without a reasonable amount of HP I might as well drive a tractor to work. I'm surrounded by diesels drivers (horse people) and I can't believe they don't subconciously hate the street characteristics of their trucks.

I'm running 33" tires and my new ECM must be set for 25's or 29's or whatever Mustangs or stock F150's come with. I assume I'll have to tell my mechanic what computer it is now for him to set my speedometer for my tire size and gear ratio. I suspect the diagnostic computer he has will know the difference automagically. He'll be mad because I did it myself but, I'll make it up to him when I have him change my dif's for lockers.

 

Quick question for the guys that installed the Ford Mass-air conversion kit:

Did you guys get the 8 little plugs that were supposed to be installed in the old (stock) fuel injector harness?

Mine came with 8 plugs....but none of them fit my stock harness.

 

Yeah I got 8 little gray plugs that go into the old injector's harness (only goes on 1 way).

There is a tech article on this site as to how to re-program your speedo yourself.

I won't re-calibrate my computer unless it doesn't run smoothly, but the MAF will adjust for the 393. It will be using the 351's firing order, not the truck 5.0L firing order.

 

You really just have to hold your mouth right - there's not a tool specifically designed for it. I've found that holding the injector, and then wiggling the plug side to side while pulling out works every time. I've swapped injectors about 3 times now so I'm getting good at it.

I asked Pro-M about engine size when I had my MAF recalibrated, and they told me that engine size didn't matter. All of the 302's up until the HO had the truck firing order (which is the same firing order as a small block chevy). Ford changed it to the 351 firing order I think just to smooth it out a little bit. It really doesn't make any difference what the firing order is, and if you want to change from one to the other, it's just a matter of changing the cam.

 

MAF only need recalibrated when changing injectors. Ford change the firing order to take the strain off of the rear bearing, not sure how that works but thats what all the ford books say.

Sure makes me happy to hear all of you enjoying the Mass Air and saying it was worth the money and bother. I keep saying its worth the investment and should be the first mod done to our trucks befor any other mod. But I keep getting slack from nonmass air guys on this form. Now you know what I've been saying all along!! "mass Air Rules!!!!

 

You've got to have the injector size programmed to the MAF sensor...not the MAF computer.

 

I'd rather do it by programming the new injector size directly to the computer. Recal'd MAF meters just fool the computer, and can cause part throttle detonation and timing issues. The 460 has the 302 firing order, so I don't see rear main stress as an issue with the firing order, but maybe so - I don't know.