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Going back to EFI

  • Thread starter Thread starter thestig
  • Start date Start date May 16, 2011
T

thestig

New Member
May 16, 2011
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May 16, 2011
#1
  • May 16, 2011
  • #1
Hey everyone, new member here.

I just got a 1988 fox that needs some work and one thing I want to do is lose the carb a PO put on the car. What all is required to go back to EFI?
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,366
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Massachusetts
May 16, 2011
#2
  • May 16, 2011
  • #2
Is it an oroginal 5.0 efi car?

Most 87-93 carb swaps start life as a 2.3L mustang. Most just figure a carb is easier than changing out wiring and such.

First step is to identify what the po removed. The obvious things are the upper intake, injectors, 87-89 engine harness, and deciding on mass air or speed density. But its hard to lost other items without knowing what fuel pump is in the tank, or what fuel lines were used.

Some guys do hack conversions to carb, and some do excellent jobs. Until will know what your car is, hard to list everything really.
 
T

thestig

New Member
May 16, 2011
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May 16, 2011
#3
  • May 16, 2011
  • #3
Mustang5L5 said:
Is it an oroginal 5.0 efi car?

Most 87-93 carb swaps start life as a 2.3L mustang. Most just figure a carb is easier than changing out wiring and such.

First step is to identify what the po removed. The obvious things are the upper intake, injectors, 87-89 engine harness, and deciding on mass air or speed density. But its hard to lost other items without knowing what fuel pump is in the tank, or what fuel lines were used.

Some guys do hack conversions to carb, and some do excellent jobs. Until will know what your car is, hard to list everything really.
Click to expand...

Sorry, really should have been more specific. Yes, it was a 2.3L.
 

ID89GT

10 Year Member
May 26, 2008
1,659
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Spokane Valley, WA
May 17, 2011
#4
  • May 17, 2011
  • #4
Gas tank with in tank pump, hard fuel lines going from tank to engine bay. Upper and lower intake, fuel rails, fuel injectors, various sensors used for efi, computer harness, computer, coil and efi distributor... I'm sure I'm missing some stuff but that's what I can recall off the top of my head
 
B

Boss 351

Here sthhhhhhhheeeve take a picthh of my man flowe
Jul 13, 2003
2,433
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48
Canada
May 17, 2011
#5
  • May 17, 2011
  • #5
Can you find a rusted POS for $500 and use that as a parts car... once done sell extra parts and get some money back...
 
T

thestig

New Member
May 16, 2011
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May 17, 2011
#6
  • May 17, 2011
  • #6
ID89GT said:
Gas tank with in tank pump, hard fuel lines going from tank to engine bay. Upper and lower intake, fuel rails, fuel injectors, various sensors used for efi, computer harness, computer, coil and efi distributor... I'm sure I'm missing some stuff but that's what I can recall off the top of my head
Click to expand...

An entire new gas tank? Wow

FML this blows
 
T

thestig

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May 17, 2011
#7
  • May 17, 2011
  • #7
Boss 351 said:
Can you find a rusted POS for $500 and use that as a parts car... once done sell extra parts and get some money back...
Click to expand...

Unfortunately I've got nowhere to keep a parts car, so that really isn't an option
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,366
18,112
224
Massachusetts
May 17, 2011
#8
  • May 17, 2011
  • #8
thestig said:
An entire new gas tank? Wow

FML this blows
Click to expand...

Not necessarily. Goes back to how WELL of a job the OP did converting the car to carb.

It should have been changed to a low pressure fuel pump, but who knows. I've seen plenty of jobs done with the EFI high pressure pump is left in place and a special regulator is used to drop the pressure down.

So what it takes really depends on what is done.


It's like any of the other swaps...

AOD to T5
EFI to Carb
2.3L to 5.0


There is the right way to do it...and the shortcut methods
 

ID89GT

10 Year Member
May 26, 2008
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Spokane Valley, WA
May 17, 2011
#9
  • May 17, 2011
  • #9
Ya you won't need a new gas tank depending on how it was converted.. if it was done the right way though than you will. Even if you need a new gas tank, the 4 cylinder efi ones use the same as the 5.0 so they should be easy to find one.
 
T

thestig

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May 16, 2011
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May 17, 2011
#10
  • May 17, 2011
  • #10
Found a mass air harness for sale for $250 and a computer for $225. Are those good prices or no?
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,366
18,112
224
Massachusetts
May 17, 2011
#11
  • May 17, 2011
  • #11
Nope

Computers go for $100 used

MA harnesses around 200, but a speed density one can be had for MUCH cheaper and the MAF add on harness (aftermarket) can be had for $50
 
T

thestig

New Member
May 16, 2011
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May 17, 2011
#12
  • May 17, 2011
  • #12
Alright, won't be buying that then. Did find a MAF harness for about $100. Just need to find a computer
 

tannerc91gt

This last 25% is foreign territory at this point
Founding Member
Nov 29, 1999
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May 18, 2011
#13
  • May 18, 2011
  • #13
Just out of curiosity, what's your issue with the carb?
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,366
18,112
224
Massachusetts
May 18, 2011
#14
  • May 18, 2011
  • #14
Keep in mine, the only engine harness that will made up to an 87-89 body harness is the 87-89 harnesses. SO if you find a MAF harness, it NEEDS to be a 1989 MAF harness (or 88 cali) otherwise it won't mate up to the internal body harness and you'll need to swap that.

2.3L and 5.0 body harnesses are the same.
 
T

thestig

New Member
May 16, 2011
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May 18, 2011
#15
  • May 18, 2011
  • #15
tannerc91gt said:
Just out of curiosity, what's your issue with the carb?
Click to expand...

According to everybody I ask, the carb won't pass inspection. Plus I just want some of the advantages of it

Mustang5L5 said:
Keep in mine, the only engine harness that will made up to an 87-89 body harness is the 87-89 harnesses. SO if you find a MAF harness, it NEEDS to be a 1989 MAF harness (or 88 cali) otherwise it won't mate up to the internal body harness and you'll need to swap that.

2.3L and 5.0 body harnesses are the same.
Click to expand...

Whew. Looked and it's off an 89. Thanks for all your help
 
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