I'm at whits end with this engine. Its brand spanking new, less than 5k miles on the block.

The EFI crap and everything was all swapped over to it. Please keep in mind that I've already changed the following: MAP, Distributor, TFI, Coil, Fuel Pressure Regulator, TPS, coolant sensors, IAC

It idles worth crap. Slow, fast, slow fast, never steady at all. Alot of times when its idling low it feels like its going to stumble out and die. Sometimes it trips a code in the computer, but it always comes back to something rediculous like EGR or TPS. (The TPS is less than 2 months old)

Timing is dead on, engine runs great some days, crappy others. Today, I had to hold the gas pedal down 1/4 way to keep it running while parked behind a school bus and when I went to take off, it burped out the exhaust and damn near died on me. I'm not good with the 88 Ford EFI crap but I've replaced just about every part I could imagine would cause it to go wrong and it makes no difference. Usually the problem gets worse when I change a part out.

Also on the way to work it felt like there were dead spots in the throttle, where it would do nothing, or slow down, until I pushed the pedal further.

Anyone have any idea or can pinpoint what is wrong? Fuel pressure is good too. I have to check it again but it was checked once a few months back when these problems started and it was A-ok.

How hard would it be to put a carbuerated setup on it instead of the EFI? I'm assuming the intake and carb would have to be swapped in, but what about the distributor or something else I dont know about?

 

yep new intake, carb,dist. you will need a new fuel pump and pickup......don't use the current efi pump you have. and if you have a manual tranny you dont have to do anything with that subject.

 

Your problem is probably not related to the EFI system, likely you have a vacuum leak or a problem with the EGR. Check the valve for proper function and the attached steel tube for leaks, and look for cracked vacuum lines and inspect the vacuum canister(coffee can) for rust. This can should hold a vacuum after the engine is shutoff, if you don't hear air when you pull the vacuum line off it you found a problem.

 

Where is the vacuum canister on this beast? I can't seem to find it.

 

Should be passenger side inner fender.

 

Okay, someone explain to me why I would need a different distributor. I was under the impression that the fuel injection system and ignition system were seperate from each other and operated as such.

Also, why wont the supply pump in the tank work? I can bypass the EFI pump easily enough, and someone else mentioned just using the supply pump in the tank since it wasn't a high pressure pump.

Also, with a carb setup, what kind of accelerator cable would I need?

 

i suggest you give us a chance to help before you cross over to a carb. the benefits of efi well out way those of a carb. not to mention your mpg will suffer running a carb more so then being efi.

 

I've been trying to figure this out for a month with the help of the various forum members, and I do appreciate this but to no avail I have tried and failed to find the source of the problem. Its to the point where when it rains, it wont start. (Rains hard) I might be on to something with the distributor cap and wires though. We'll see.

 

Yup, she's going to get a new distributor cap, button, and wires. Plugs are almost new and look great. Since cleaning the old cap and buttons, its run without a single miss.