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mass air conversion

  • Thread starter Thread starter cdiehl30
  • Start date Start date Nov 6, 2007
C

cdiehl30

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Oct 31, 2007
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Nov 6, 2007
#1
  • Nov 6, 2007
  • #1
I have an 88 gt. I am wanting to convert this car to mass air. I have already ordered an a9l computer. What else do I need? Can i get this stuff from the junk yard? How long does this take to complete, and how hard is this? Also, where can i find directions?
 

PUNISHER RACING

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Aug 27, 2007
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FORD CITY, PA.
Nov 6, 2007
#2
  • Nov 6, 2007
  • #2
you will need a mass air harness or a mass air conversion harness obviously a mass air meter that matches your injector size and map sensor for mass air. you will need to change up some vacuum lines and your intake piping. you can find these in a junk yard or from Ford Fuel Injection, or painless and finally it will take the better part of a day to lay everything out and fasten and hide wires to your liking.
 

Vinnietbird

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Jun 2, 2005
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Nov 6, 2007
#3
  • Nov 6, 2007
  • #3
I did the conversion on my car in about 2 hours,including hooking up the MAC CAI kit,installing the new computer,and pulling the vacuum line from the MAP sensor and installing a plug where that vacuum line originated from.I used a kit for the Conversion I got off Ebay.I think it was about 430.00.Instructions were included.Solder and heatshrink the wires that you have to splice together.There was only 6 wires for me to deal with.2 wires were moved in the computer plug,2 were added from the new Mass Air harness,and two were spliced for hot and ground.easy stuff.
 

fastnotch2002

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Feb 28, 2003
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ohio
Nov 6, 2007
#4
  • Nov 6, 2007
  • #4
Vinnietbird said:
I did the conversion on my car in about 2 hours,including hooking up the MAC CAI kit,installing the new computer,and pulling the vacuum line from the MAP sensor and installing a plug where that vacuum line originated from.I used a kit for the Conversion I got off Ebay.I think it was about 430.00.Instructions were included.Solder and heatshrink the wires that you have to splice together.There was only 6 wires for me to deal with.2 wires were moved in the computer plug,2 were added from the new Mass Air harness,and two were spliced for hot and ground.easy stuff.
Click to expand...


Done it on my old 88, pretty simple and straight forward, check ebay for the kit.
 

Roland69

Sergeant Tangnet
Sep 17, 2005
2,867
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58
Port Elgin, Ontario
Nov 6, 2007
#5
  • Nov 6, 2007
  • #5
you don't "need" a complete harness

my friend did his 87 and just had a MAF sensor and spliced it into his 87 harness. just need to swap a few pins around on your ecm plug
 

Vinnietbird

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Jun 2, 2005
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Nov 7, 2007
#6
  • Nov 7, 2007
  • #6
X2.Easy stuff if you just take your time and pay attention to the pins in the harness you are dealing with.Like I said,move 2,add 2,splice 2.Done.
 

jrichker

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Nov 7, 2007
#7
  • Nov 7, 2007
  • #7
MASS air conversion instructions from http://www.stangnet.com/tech/maf/massairconversion.html FREE
A9L (5 Speed) computer from junkyard $100-$150
A9P (Auto or in a pinch, 5 Speed) computer from junkyard $100-$150
70MM MAF from 94-95 Mustang GT - $40-$70
MASS Air wiring harness kit $30-$85

The whole thing is probably less than $300 using junkyard parts.

A9L computers are 5 speed only
A9P computers are automatic, but will work with a 5 speed.

The conversion harness seems to work well for most folks. It avoids the compatibility problems in using a harness from the junkyard. Simple and cheap, actually less work that swapping the wiring harness.
Conversion Harness kits & parts
http://www.mass-air.com/
http://fordfuelinjection.com/index.php?p=54

If the idea of moving & soldering wires scares you, here's a list of compatible Mass Air wiring harnesses.

Copied from bbunt302
Just for reference, here's a list of all the compatible years:

89 harness should work for 86-89 as long as you're using mass air.
90 harness will only work in a 90. (B/c of air bags and dual dash connectors)
91 through early 92 harnesses should be compatible (single dash connector, fuel pump relay under driver's seat)


Larger MAF to go with Mass Air conversion:
94-95 Mustang GT MAF - $40-$100. It is 70 MM instead of the stock 55 MM on regular stangs built prior to 94. It uses a slip on duct on the side that goes to the throttle body and a 4 bolt flange on the other. You need a flange adapter to fit the stock slip on air ducting that goes to the air box. Wiring plugs right in with no changes. *1 *2

*1.) Metal flange adapter http://www.kustomz.com/cat3.html Buy the TR70 for $44.95. Or spend some time on eBay looking for one that may fit.

*2.) MAF & sensor interchange
The 94-95 Mustang 5.0 MAF & sensor is also found on:
1995-94 Mustang 3.8L F2VF-12B579-A2A,
1994-92 Crown Victoria 4.6L F2VF-12B579-A2A,
1995-94 Mustang, Mustang Cobra 5.0L F2VF-12B579-A2A,
1994-92 Town Car 4.6L F2VF-12B579-A2A,
1994-92 Grand Marquis 4.6L F2VF-12B579-A2A,
Evidently the –A1A, -A2A, AA, etc. on the end of the part number is a minor variant that did not change the operating specs. You should be able to ignore it and have everything work good.
 

Vinnietbird

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Jun 2, 2005
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Nov 7, 2007
#8
  • Nov 7, 2007
  • #8
This will save you a LOT of time and money...item #280169090685 on Ebay.It's a Mass Air computer (A9L) and harness from a '91 Mustang.22 hours left to bid,and it's $140.00 buy it now.
 
3

308stang

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Oct 18, 2007
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Nov 7, 2007
#9
  • Nov 7, 2007
  • #9
i jus did the maf convertion on my 87',but when im on the gas it suppuders like if its running out of gas.what could it be? i got stock injectors but the maf is bigger,could that be it.im going crazy!!
 

jrichker

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#10
  • Nov 8, 2007
  • #10
308stang said:
i jus did the maf convertion on my 87',but when im on the gas it suppuders like if its running out of gas.what could it be? i got stock injectors but the maf is bigger,could that be it.im going crazy!!
Click to expand...

The only MAF that is a one for one swap for a 93 and earlier 5.0 Mustang is the 94-95 Mustang MAF.

The MAF body and sensor are designed to match each other. Therefore you can't swap sensors between different part number MAF bodies and maintain proper calibration. The assembly is designed to match the computer’s internal program, and swapping a different MAF can upset the computer's calibration. In other words, your monster MAF probably won't match the calibration of your 5.0 Mustang computer.
 
3

308stang

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Oct 18, 2007
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Nov 8, 2007
#11
  • Nov 8, 2007
  • #11
oh ok i get it.so in other words i should get a stock maf and that can help my problem? or what should i do?
 

Black1987Stang

Active Member
Aug 22, 2004
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Jersey Shore
Nov 8, 2007
#12
  • Nov 8, 2007
  • #12
The maf conversion is easy as cake, the hardest problem I had was getting the wires through the firewall rubber plug hah. I got a few stock maf's if anybody needs one for their conversion.
And for 308stang if you have a maf not calibrated for your injectors then it's not going to run right. Let me know if you need one.
 

88mouse

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Apr 18, 2007
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Mooresville nc
Nov 8, 2007
#13
  • Nov 8, 2007
  • #13
Vinnietbird said:
This will save you a LOT of time and money...item #280169090685 on Ebay.It's a Mass Air computer (A9L) and harness from a '91 Mustang.22 hours left to bid,and it's $140.00 buy it now.
Click to expand...

that harness won't work. The only maf harness you can use with out changing the dass harness to is an 89. 90 is a year of its own and 91 and up are the same.
 

Vinnietbird

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Jun 2, 2005
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Nov 10, 2007
#14
  • Nov 10, 2007
  • #14
I didn't know that harness wouldn't work.On my '88 T-Bird,I just bought the kit off Ebay and did my own conversion.Doing the conversion is one of those mods that when you finish it,you wonder why you didn't do it a lot earlier.
 

vristang

15 Year Member
Mar 31, 2005
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Nov 10, 2007
#15
  • Nov 10, 2007
  • #15
308stang said:
oh ok i get it.so in other words i should get a stock maf and that can help my problem? or what should i do?
Click to expand...
Start by telling us exactly what parts you have..

ecu catch code?
diameter of MAF tube?
part number of MAS (MAF sensor)?

jason
 
3

308stang

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Oct 18, 2007
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#16
  • Nov 10, 2007
  • #16
well i bought the maf off some guy,he told me the sensor its self is stock but not the meter.he didnt tel me what size it was,but ill ask him.as far for my mustang,i have a 308 with stock heads and manifold.im trying to make the motor come alive! i got msd wires,cap and rotor,i have the distributer but i havent instralled it. i got a c&l intake tube with a k&n flter.pretty much thats it.im just trying to get my car running right
 

vristang

15 Year Member
Mar 31, 2005
4,933
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Seattle
Nov 11, 2007
#17
  • Nov 11, 2007
  • #17
While the above does help a little...
We NEED to have the following...

ecu catch code?
diameter of MAF tube?
part number of MAS (MAF sensor)?


It sounds like you may have a C&L MAF tube. Check the bottom side of the aluminum housing for a 'C&L' cast into the housing.

For this, part numbers are required.
jason
 
3

308stang

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Oct 18, 2007
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Nov 12, 2007
#18
  • Nov 12, 2007
  • #18
yeah i have a c&l tube.ill check to get some numbers.
 
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