I am seeking some help, i have a fedral emissions 97 f-250 ext cab SB with a 460 and an e4od, the auto is dying and the motor is due for a freshening up. Truck has: Speed density, Doug thorly headers and a K+N open air filter, no cat, 24 lbs injectors and thats it.

Plans entail: porting and polishing heads, going to 2.19 I and 1.76 E valves. We plan to mill the deck and bring her to 9:1 comp or 9.5:1 better, can we go this far? or go with small chamber heads? but to do this i will need to convert to Sequential Port/ Mass Air, i saw that a couple of people have put 302 computers and wiring harnesses on the 460 with mixed results, what should i be looking for and what should i expect. I have the mass air sensor out of a 1997 CA mass air 460, k+N air filter and intake tubes. Should i use this or pick up the motorsport 302 mass air convert kit w/ 80 mm sensor? Also we plan to swap in a 5spd but i have done that on other trucks before.

Any help is appreciated thank you Dusty

 

Hey Buddy,

Good luck in your search (and the rebuild). There are several of us out here that have been trying to get a MAF conversion for our pre 1996 460's. I did find a guy in ##### Louis who claims to make a kit... I don't have any details yet.... Granatelli quit producing their kit. No one else manufactures on that I have found. I have yet to hear any stories of anyone that successfully used the MAF parts (and computer??) from a '96 California motor. The computer is the real issue, Injectors, the injector wiring harness, the MAF meter and most of the other hardware can be obtained easily from many sources (Mustang 302 kits, lightning 351 kits etc.). But the ECM is the bear, the 302 has a different firing order and so on... I have heard that the chip makers (Superchip and the like) can flash their chips to change the firing order in a 302 ECM, or override other problem settings, but I am a bit hesitant to go this route. I just don't really trust the fact that the motor would be effectively using the MAF and gaining the benefits if we use a 5.0 ECM chipped.... I may be wrong to feel this way but I am just not comfortable (yet??). Oh Well this is turning into a book and I am not really answering your questions. Feel free to contact me via email if you want (meshaffer at mindspring.com) to continue a dialog about this. I wish you luck and if you figure out how to convert you motor to mass air flow, PLEASE let me know. I want to do the same thing. I am wishing you really Good luck!

Mike
95 F350 Dually

 

Got a computer from a california truck think that i can get the overlay harness from motorsport and convert easily. hopeful. also i did the 5 speed convert and heads this last weekend. ported heads, added roller rockers and bigger valves 2.19 I and 1.76 E worked good but the porting has pissed off the speed density a little, im running too lean now. thats ok though i can fix it with a temporary piggy back chip.

Dusty

 

Dusty, "Jegs" sells an adjustable fuel pressure regulator for Fords that should work in your application. If you bump up the fuel pressure 2-3 lbs. it may be enough to cure your lean condition. I read an article from a 4-wheeling mag where they dropped the fuel pressure around 2 lbs. on a stock 460 EFI and picked up 15-20 HP.

Deen Hylton
Ford F250 460 C-6, K&N, Headers, Dual Exh.,Comp. Cams,Shift Kit
Pioneer CD w/Bose Speakers.
Other Passion: Blown 77 Corvette (Sorry Guys/Gals)
How I can afford to Drive the above: 93 GEO Metro

 

Hey Dusty,

Glad to hear your project is moving forward (quite rapidly I may add) very nicely. I would like to ask you a few questions... If I may, How much did you pay for the CA (1996 I think you said) trucks MAF meter and computer? I am curious also how hard it was to locate one? I cannot wait till you get it in and let me know how if performs. I really want to convert my self (I want to supercharge). Additionally I wonder how well you truck did once you installed the (bigger?) 24# injectors? Did you have to chip the EMC to fool the speed density circuit? Did it work out all right not too lean or even a bit on the rich side, did the truck perform any better with the injector change? What size injector was on you truck from the factory? Finally Please keep my in mind when you do the MAF change (meshaffer at mindspring.com) I really want to know when you complete it. I also have a name and number of a gut that says he can make a MAF conversion kit for our trucks, he is very pricey but claims to have a good kit... Keep me informed, Please! Take care.

Mike Shaffer
95 F350 Dually

 

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 11-Apr-01 AT 10:29 PM (EST)[/font][p]Mike,

Actually i went to the ford dealer to get it, i paid $5 for a computer from a junk yard for the core and $202.57 for the computer, the mass air meter off a wrecked 97 F-350 CA 460 truck was $38.00, the spendy part is the wiring harness at $327.86, i am thinking that the overlay harness for an early 302 speed density to MAF conversion would work since all the pins are the same in the harness. If you have a federal truck with blue injectors, they are 24#, white or Orange is 19# you may need to corect that info but ford said mine was factory 24#. next you need to have the CA Mass air flow meter re-calibarated to 24# from 19# since CA trucks are 19# or buy a pre-set unit, Vortec high flow factory replacement. It was difficult to compile the information concerning the 460 MAF CA trucks nobody knows anything about them not even ford. The parts are readily availible through a ford dealership, especially when a close friend works there. As to the speed density, as far as i know you can re-calibarate with the 24# injectors if you don't have them, using a piggy back chip but this can prove to be a head ache, i would just wait till MAF and set it all correctly. The MAF does use the MAF meter to set injector size. this makes changing easy. I will keep you posted. I also found out that there are two types of MAF 302 computers, dont know how reliable the info is but one, the kit used to convert standard 302 Speed density to 302 MAF is the same firing order, the latter 302s are HO, which uses the 351 order. therefore in therory the MAF 302 should plug right in. I question its reliability but hey its a start.

Dusty
ddestruel(No Email Addresses In Posts!)

 

Dusty,

I wonder if you could get your buddy at the Ford house to look up a part number for me.... On the Ca. MAF truck there must be a "Y" fitting that takes the dual throttle body down to a single tub for the MAF meter to fit into.... Could you find out what the part number is form and post it here or email (meshaffer at mindspring.com) it to me. Thankx in advance my friend. Have a good day!
Mike
95 F350 Dually

 

Dusty,

Sometimes I type to fast for my own good... See if this makes more sense... I wonder if you could get your buddy at the Ford parts house to look up a part number for me.... On the Ca. MAF truck there must be a "Y" fitting that takes the dual throttle body houseing down to a single tube for the MAF meter to fit into.... Could you find out what the part number is from you friend at Ford and either post it here or send it via email (meshaffer at mindspring.com) it to me. Thankx in advance for your effort my friend. Between you and I and If Xavair (Edward) ever comes back... He too was looking for a MAF conversion on a "Big Block" Ford! Have a good day! I await the part number.

Mike
95 F350 Dually
(Lightning Wannabe')

 

you can change the firnig order on the ford mustang injector harness by moving the ground wire on each injector to correct injector a volt meter a soldering gun & heat shrink tubing are all that are you need