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ACT sensor thread question

  • Thread starter Thread starter RYC CUKR
  • Start date Start date Dec 10, 2005

RYC CUKR

Founding Member
May 19, 2002
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Orlando
Dec 10, 2005
#1
  • Dec 10, 2005
  • #1
What is the thread on the ACT sensor? is it 3/8" npt or something. I am gonna drill and tap the ACT boss on an explorer lower is why I am asking.
 

jrichker

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#2
  • Dec 10, 2005
  • #2
Take the sensor to Home Depot or the hardware store. They will have a pipe fitting you can thread it into to check the thread size.
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
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Dec 10, 2005
#3
  • Dec 10, 2005
  • #3
I would just mount it into the air intake tube ahead of the throttle body. That's where it is on most vehicles.

The way Ford mounted the ACT low on the engine isn't exactly the greatest place to get a reading
 

jrichker

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#4
  • Dec 10, 2005
  • #4
Mustang5L5 said:
I would just mount it into the air intake tube ahead of the throttle body. That's where it is on most vehicles.

The way Ford mounted the ACT low on the engine isn't exactly the greatest place to get a reading
Click to expand...
Amen to that statement, here's the how to do it...

The best spot for the ACT is the air box if you don't do the drill and tap thing. You get to cut and splice the 2 ACT wires in order to make them long enough to reach the air box. Solder the wire extensions on the existing wires & use heat shrink tubing to cover the splices. Offset the place where you cut the wires so that you don't have a big bulge when you put heat shrink over the 2 wires to cover & protect them. The air box gets a hole (5/8" or so) for the ACT drilled about 1 1/4" down & 1/1/4" in on the front top side near the upper radiator hose. A brass fitting nut from Home Depot or Ace Hardware secures the ACT into the air box.

If you are very clever, you will find that the ACT connector comes apart so that you can remove the pins. A very small screwdriver releases the lock in the front of the center insert, while another small screwdriver inserted in the back pushes it out. Once the center insert is out of the connector shell, the pins come out easily. New pins are available from AutoZone in a $5 electrical pin kit for Fords. Crimping the pins on the extender wires saves you from having to splice them twice: once to put the connector on and once to extend the wires.

6 ft black 18 gauge wire
6 ft green 18 gauge wire
6 ft 1/4" heat shrink tubing
1 ft 3/16" heat shrink tubing

Measure the 2 extender wires & cut them to length, crimp one set of pins on them. Then mate up the extender pins with the wiring harness & slide the 3/16" heat shrink tubing over them & shrink the tubing. Then slide the 1/4" heat shrink tubing over the pair of wires and shrink the tubing. When you are done you'll have about 1" of wire left without heat shrink tubing on it to strip & crimp the new pins on. Stick the new pins in the old connector shell, assemble it and you are done. It looks as good as factory. Some wire loom can be used to enhance the "Factory Look".
 

Michael Yount

Mustang Master
Apr 10, 2002
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Dec 10, 2005
#5
  • Dec 10, 2005
  • #5
....or you can simply cut and solder in additional lengths of wire and insulate with heat shrink. Cover the wiring with the factory black 'corrugate' loom and it looks completely stock. That's the approach I took when I moved mine to the air intake elbow in front of the throttle body.

No performance benefit to moving it -- it's just a little less risky than drilling and tapping those crappy lower castings...
 

bubba-dough

Active Member
Dec 28, 2004
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Dec 10, 2005
#6
  • Dec 10, 2005
  • #6
I didn't do mine, my engine builder did, or I could tell you.
 
A

andrewVA

New Member
Oct 13, 2004
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Dec 11, 2005
#7
  • Dec 11, 2005
  • #7
Disregard, I got it.
 

tmoss

Gettin Wired
Founding Member
Jun 28, 2001
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Dec 11, 2005
#8
  • Dec 11, 2005
  • #8
9/16" drill and 3/8" NPT tap - regardless of where it goes.......
 

RYC CUKR

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Orlando
Dec 11, 2005
#9
  • Dec 11, 2005
  • #9
Thanks for the info guys.
 
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