Hello guys,
I have a question... Which of these ECUs would be good for my truck? The one I took out of it, is part number E8TF-12A650-BS2A. Nobody seems to have this part number for some reason. Autoparts has part number E8TF-12A650-BSA but I don't know if it is good for my truck or not. How can I find out which is good and which is not?
The truck is: 2WD 1988 EFI F-250 4.9L 6Cyl 300cc Automatic transmission. Dashboard reads: P R N D 2 1
Someone sent me a list of ECMs but is asking me which I want. I live in a tropical weather country on the same level of the sea hot all year-round, and it is a daily driver with no heavy duty work at all. Emissions is not controlled here at all. It is lifted 6 inches and runs 35 inches rubbers. (I don't know if this is relevant)
Here is the list I got from this guy, none is my part number but he says they are all for a 6 inline. Please help me choose the right computer for my truck.
What's AT, MT, and under/over 8500 GVW?
Sorry for the long post, please help!... thanks!


Elec Cont Unit (ECU), 6-300 (4.9L), AT, over 8500 GVW
Elec Cont Unit (ECU), 6-300 (4.9L), AT, under 8500 GVW, std emis (Fed)
Elec Cont Unit (ECU), 6-300 (4.9L), MT, under 8500 GVW, low emis
Elec Cont Unit (ECU), 6-300 (4.9L), AT, under 8500 GVW, low emis
Elec Cont Unit (ECU), 6-300 (4.9L), AT, under 8500 GVW, High Altitude
Ignition Cont, 6-300 (4.9L)
Elec Cont Unit (ECU), 6-300 (4.9L), MT, under 8500 GVW, std emis (Fed), ID E8TF-Z1A
Elec Cont Unit (ECU), 6-300 (4.9L), MT, under 8500 GVW, std emis (Fed), ID E8TF-Z1B
Elec Cont Unit (ECU), 6-300 (4.9L), MT, under 8500 GVW, std emis (Fed), ID E8TF-Z2A
Elec Cont Unit (ECU), 6-300 (4.9L), MT, under 8500 GVW, std emis (Fed), ID E8TF-Z2B
Elec Cont Unit (ECU), 6-300 (4.9L), MT, under 8500 GVW, std emis (Fed), ID E8TF-ZA
Elec Cont Unit (ECU), 6-300 (4.9L), MT, under 8500 GVW, std emis (Fed), ID E8TF-ZB
Elec Cont Unit (ECU), 6-300 (4.9L), MT, under 8500 GVW, High Altitude, ID E8TF-AB1B
Elec Cont Unit (ECU), 6-300 (4.9L), MT, under 8500 GVW, High Altitude, ID E8TF-AB2B
Elec Cont Unit (ECU), 6-300 (4.9L), MT, under 8500 GVW, High Altitude, ID E8TF-ABB
Elec Cont Unit (ECU), 6-300 (4.9L), MT, over 8500 GVW
Elec Cont Unit (ECU), 6-300 (4.9L), MT, under 8500 GVW, std emis (Fed), ID E7TF-L1A
Elec Cont Unit (ECU), 6-300 (4.9L), MT, under 8500 GVW, std emis (Fed), ID E7TF-L1B
Elec Cont Unit (ECU), 6-300 (4.9L), MT, under 8500 GVW, std emis (Fed), ID E7TF-L1C
Elec Cont Unit (ECU), 6-300 (4.9L), MT, under 8500 GVW, std emis (Fed), ID E7TF-L2A
Elec Cont Unit (ECU), 6-300 (4.9L), MT, under 8500 GVW, std emis (Fed), ID E7TF-L2B
Elec Cont Unit (ECU), 6-300 (4.9L), MT, under 8500 GVW, std emis (Fed), ID E7TF-L2C
Elec Cont Unit (ECU), 6-300 (4.9L), MT, under 8500 GVW, std emis (Fed), ID E8TF-CK1A
Elec Cont Unit (ECU), 6-300 (4.9L), MT, under 8500 GVW, std emis (Fed), ID E8TF-CK2A
Elec Cont Unit (ECU), 6-300 (4.9L), MT, under 8500 GVW, High Altitude, ID E7TF-V1A
Elec Cont Unit (ECU), 6-300 (4.9L), MT, under 8500 GVW, High Altitude, ID E7TF-V2A
Elec Cont Unit (ECU), 6-300 (4.9L), MT, under 8500 GVW, High Altitude, ID E8TF-CN1A
Elec Cont Unit (ECU), 6-300 (4.9L), MT, under 8500 GVW, High Altitude, ID E8TF-CN2A

 

I don't know which one of those you sould use, ( OK, i just didn't want to read them all) but you have the exact same setup as me. '88 300 six with a C-6 three speed auto. I will check tomorrow what my ECU is, but out of those ones, id get an over 8500 GVW with an F-250, but you should check your GVW (gross vehicle weight) to make sure. Otherwise, standard emissions and with a C-6, which has absolutely no computer control, you could probably use the MT computer if you wanted.

 

automatic transmission (AT) / manual transmission (MT)

the first poster answered the other one... (GVW) gross vehicle weight

 

I'll wait for your response, thanks so much. Why do you think there are so many models for the same specifications? (aside tranny, GVW and emissions)
Bye
Abel Moreno

 

Interesting. Each was apparently set internally for a specific type of vehicle, altitude or driving. Nowadays, you just reprogram one computer for any of those situations.

-Ed

 

OK, let's see...
My ECU # is E8TF-12A650-BT2A
It's very close to what you had, but I don't know what the difference is. Maybe something with the fact that mine's an F-150, but more likely someting with emissions. Do you have smog injection heads? I do. And all of the AIR/Thermactor stuff too.

 

I have an '87 F250, T-18 4-speed. A few months back, I set out to find a new ECM. I got so tired of trying to match up all those numbers to the specific one I had, that I said the "hell with it" and bought one from a junkyard out of a '91 F150 with a five speed. Plugged it in and it runs like a charm. I can't tell a bit of difference in the running. What I'm saying is that in a truck the age of yours, you may not need to be so particular.

Good luck

 

I'll guess due Fords efforts at making the 300 emission legal. ECM were in the infancy stage during the 80's. Instead of changing the program, Ford felt the need to change the program and the part number.

 

Thanks for your comments, you've been very helpful as usual, I just hope it all works out good. I'll let you know the outcome of the situation. (greatfully I have the propane system so I can still run the truck with the broken computer)