Swapping in a newer 5.0 EFI

Dino

Active Member
Nov 17, 1999
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Halifax, NS, Canada
What is involved in switching from a SD 5.0 EFI to a newer MAF 5.0? What parts would be needed?

I'm not talking about just switching it to MAF but removing the entire engine. It's an 86 GT with flat top pistons and not many head options, and I'd be interested in swapping in a newer one, with lower mileage, that already has MAF and that I'd be able to easily put better heads on.
 
Just swap the engine, and use your wiring,

The engine doesn't know it's MAF, so if you have just the engine all you need to do is swap it int your car and hook your wiring up
 
Should be no different than any other 87-88 5.0 speed density setup. If he does the swap correctly with all the sensors hooked up properly and in working condition then he should see power levels equal to 87+

There is nothing in the computer that tells the car what mechanical parts are on the engine. Just swap the long blocks and call it a day
 
Are you wanting to swap in the newer engine PLUS convert to mas air?If so then obviously you will need the MAF and the wireing and computer (A9L) or just engines do like Mustang5L5 said.But if it were me and i was doing that,i would convert over too mass air.peace







john:p
 
If you remove an '86 engine and swap in '92 5.0 (for example),then you're done. As stated above,the '86 computer will run it just fine. You won't need Mass Air til you start swapping bigger cams. You can even swap the heads and be fine with Speed Density.
 
Are you wanting to swap in the newer engine PLUS convert to mas air?If so then obviously you will need the MAF and the wireing and computer (A9L) or just engines do like Mustang5L5 said.But if it were me and i was doing that,i would convert over too mass air.peace

Yeah I'd be wanting to switch it to MAF as well, not to keep it as SD. I would want to eventually add heads/intake/cam, etc...
 
Then get a Mass Air conversion kit. I got mine from Ebay for "I think" about $30.00. It has the wires,terminals,splicers,and plug with instructions....at the computer end of the main harness plug,you add two wires,move two wires,splice two wires. Easy easy stuff....and cheaper than buying a new harness and swapping it out.
 
If it were me... I'd swap the motor and leave the whole thing speed density until I NEEDED to swap to mass air. As previously mentioned, until you get into swapping to heavier cams, there's really no reason to go maf. It's just another sensor to worry about and another inlet track restriction.

Look around from a more aggressive SD and blower friendly cam and swap it into that later model motor then call it a day.

You can take your time collecting maf converstion parts and have them sitting around for when you need them.

With fresh motor, a nice intake, some aluminum heads and a blower along with an SD friendly cam.... you'll make more power than you'll know what to do with on the street.

It's when you get into stroked motors and changing the cam profile that you really start running into problems with SD.