EFI CARB engine swap?
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
EFI CARB engine swap?
Hi. I just joined and have a question. I have an 83 F-250 4WD with a very tired 300 six. I just acquired a 90 E-250 with a great 300 six and completely blown tranny. Problem--The 90 van is EFI, the 83 is carburated. Anyone have any idea whether a complete engine swap (with EFI intact) is possible? If not, will all the parts from the carb engine bolt up to the EFI engine? I mean intake manifold, exhaust manifold, so that I can simply pull the engine from the van and restore the 83 to original power.Any suggestions/knowledge gratefully accepted. If you need any ford parts, please let me know. I am building a failry large collection of extra parts. You know, like coat hangers in the closet.....Thanks,John
Senior User
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
From: Near KC Missouri
I am pretty sure you can bolt everything from your old 300 to the van's 300. i could be wrong though of course.
As for an EFI swap there are a lot of info floating about on the topic. You could do a search here and even google it. I bet you would fine a wealth of knowledge on the subject.
One thing I can offer is a link to FFI. Here you can get an idea about EFI motors.
Are you wanting to swap to and EFI system or not? That is the real question. If you are and once you get an idea of how it is going then I can gureentee you that there are a ton of briliant people on FTE that can help you along the way when you get stumped or are unsure on something.
As for an EFI swap there are a lot of info floating about on the topic. You could do a search here and even google it. I bet you would fine a wealth of knowledge on the subject.
One thing I can offer is a link to FFI. Here you can get an idea about EFI motors.
Are you wanting to swap to and EFI system or not? That is the real question. If you are and once you get an idea of how it is going then I can gureentee you that there are a ton of briliant people on FTE that can help you along the way when you get stumped or are unsure on something.
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,971
Likes: 2,731
From: Virginia
If you like playing with wires and computers, by all means swap the efi in. Most people don't, and know nothing about the EECIV system, so if you are one of these, I would swap all the stuff from carbed engine to the efi long block. I did this with a 302, and everything fit. I am assuming you could do this with a 6 too.
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
ZTitan:
Immediate goal is to get new motor into 1983 F-250. Eventual goal is to switch to EFI. I have researched aftermarket kits and it is possible, affordable and within my abilities.
If I can simply swap the entire motor/computer/control circuitry, that would be my best bet.
Franklin2:
I am very comfortable with computers, wiring, electrical/electronics in general. Anyone you know who has experience in this conversion, please let them know I am looking for info.
General response: A wiring diagram for both the 83 F-250 and the 90 E-250 would certainly help me in determining the feasability. The wiring diagrams I have seen are poor at best, fuzzy and cause eyestrain. Any sources of either cd based wiring diagrams or large clear printed wiring diagrams would be appreciated.
Thanks to all,
John
Immediate goal is to get new motor into 1983 F-250. Eventual goal is to switch to EFI. I have researched aftermarket kits and it is possible, affordable and within my abilities.
If I can simply swap the entire motor/computer/control circuitry, that would be my best bet.
Franklin2:
I am very comfortable with computers, wiring, electrical/electronics in general. Anyone you know who has experience in this conversion, please let them know I am looking for info.
General response: A wiring diagram for both the 83 F-250 and the 90 E-250 would certainly help me in determining the feasability. The wiring diagrams I have seen are poor at best, fuzzy and cause eyestrain. Any sources of either cd based wiring diagrams or large clear printed wiring diagrams would be appreciated.
Thanks to all,
John
Senior User
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
From: Near KC Missouri
Yeah the diagrams are hard to come by with out a nice book, which is what I probably should buy myself. However I do happen to have the Diagram on your truck somewhere buried in a mess of files on a external Hard drive. I'll dig them out.
As for an EFI swap. You don't need to buy any kit really. you can pull the main harness from under the hood, I think you need the in dash one as well, and the one leading to the tanks. You will also need to make sure you have the correct fuel pumps, Computer, and any important things that make the EFI motor tick. You could just go to a junk yard and start robbing it of parts until you got every thing you need. Take pictures with a Digi camera if you need to. Since the EFI motor is out of a 90 I would assume you should rob the parts from a truck in compatible year. Or you can look around at places like Craigslist.com and find a donor truck for cheap. Just some ideas.
I'll post that Diagram as soon as I can. You might be able to go to a dealer and see if the service department can print one off for you too for the van and or truck.
As for an EFI swap. You don't need to buy any kit really. you can pull the main harness from under the hood, I think you need the in dash one as well, and the one leading to the tanks. You will also need to make sure you have the correct fuel pumps, Computer, and any important things that make the EFI motor tick. You could just go to a junk yard and start robbing it of parts until you got every thing you need. Take pictures with a Digi camera if you need to. Since the EFI motor is out of a 90 I would assume you should rob the parts from a truck in compatible year. Or you can look around at places like Craigslist.com and find a donor truck for cheap. Just some ideas.
I'll post that Diagram as soon as I can. You might be able to go to a dealer and see if the service department can print one off for you too for the van and or truck.
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Ztitan:
I have the complete 90 E-250. I drove it home. Why not pull all the parts from the van, including wiring harnesses? Is there a difference between truck and van wiring?
The van will givve me the correct fuel pump as well. If God really smiles on me, the tanks will fit from the van into the truck as well. Major plus, both truck and van are dual tank rigs.
If not, hopefully the sending unit/feed/return fittings will be transplantable from the van tanks to the truck tanks.
Thanks in advance if you can find the wiring diagrams. If you need any Info on Indian Chief (1930s to 50s) I have the service/repair manuals and will make image files for you. (Yeah, I am an old fart.... 1947 Chief (Bonneville even!) was my first motorcycle.)
John
I have the complete 90 E-250. I drove it home. Why not pull all the parts from the van, including wiring harnesses? Is there a difference between truck and van wiring?
The van will givve me the correct fuel pump as well. If God really smiles on me, the tanks will fit from the van into the truck as well. Major plus, both truck and van are dual tank rigs.
If not, hopefully the sending unit/feed/return fittings will be transplantable from the van tanks to the truck tanks.
Thanks in advance if you can find the wiring diagrams. If you need any Info on Indian Chief (1930s to 50s) I have the service/repair manuals and will make image files for you. (Yeah, I am an old fart.... 1947 Chief (Bonneville even!) was my first motorcycle.)
John
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,971
Likes: 2,731
From: Virginia
Sounds like you know about the fuel system mods you will need for the efi. But also check out the speed sensor situation. Most of the later efi trucks used a sensor mounted in the rearend. See if the van has a sensor going into the top of the rearend. If it does, you need to figure out someway to get this signal in your truck.
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Thanks. I am learning there will be a lot more than a simple bolt-in. I talked with my resident Ford expert and he reminded me that the wiring harness routing and length will be different between a truck and a van just due to physical layout. I'd forgotten to take that into account, but I can add/shorten/splice wires.As to the speed sensor, his opinio was that it was located between the speedo gear on the tranny and the cable, making it relatively easy to get speed sensor data.I'll let you know what I find out. It looks doable. Frustating, fun and dirty, but doable!John
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Senior User
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
From: Near KC Missouri
I do have a zip file of the diagrams I think you need for both the van and the truck. Can you shoot me an email address I can send the file? If not let me know I can upload them and post a link.
Good luck with the EFI swap. Sounds fun! But after 30 hours of work it might not be so fun.
Good luck with the EFI swap. Sounds fun! But after 30 hours of work it might not be so fun.
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,140
Likes: 4
From: Oak Harbor, OH
It's a very doable swap. It just takes some time and patience. It won't be a one weekend deal. Take your time get a haynes manual as the wiring diagrams are VERY good in them. I'd get one for the van and one for the truck. That way you only have to swap the wiring you need to.
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Thanks pfogle--
Have you done this before? Do you by any chance know if the tanks are the same size or at least if the sending unit/fuel pump can be moved from the van tanks to the truck tanks?
Also, do you know if the vehicle speed sensor is transmission or rear end mounted?
Have you done this before? Do you by any chance know if the tanks are the same size or at least if the sending unit/fuel pump can be moved from the van tanks to the truck tanks?
Also, do you know if the vehicle speed sensor is transmission or rear end mounted?
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,140
Likes: 4
From: Oak Harbor, OH
The tanks are identical if both vehicles have dual tanks. I've not done the swap personally, but a lot of people on here have. With a little patience and a good wiring diagram anything is possible.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
STORMINORMAN
Ford Inline Six, 200, 250, 4.9L / 300
3
Jun 8, 2012 08:48 AM
timo2le
Small Block V8 (221, 260, 289, 5.0/302, 5.8/351W)
3
May 16, 2005 11:04 PM