1997 V8 Explorer PCM w/harness and transmission transplant in my 1977 351w F150 | Page 4 | Ford Explorer Forums - Serious Explorations

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1997 V8 Explorer PCM w/harness and transmission transplant in my 1977 351w F150

This is my work in progress thread to my 1977 F150. I purchased the truck as a stock 2wd swaped 351w / C6 truck with a 2.72 9" rear end. The minute I bought the truck I knew I was going to swap it to EFI but it needs to be done affordable as this is going to be my run around the shop work truck. I also know overdrive is about necessary these days so that needs to be in my upgrades to gain more power and fuel economy. This truck will be a daily driver so no antique tags for it. It will need a Virginia state inspection when complete(no smog here). Here is the plan:

Engine: 351w roller block, Explorer GT40 heads (.5" head bolt holes)

Intake: Knock off PP 351w mustang intake

Fuel system: Mid 90s F150 factory rear tank setup.

Ignition: Stock Explorer coil tower ignition with modified cam pos sensor and damper dudes 28oz explorer balancer for crank trigger

Belt drive/timing cover: Factory explorer 5.0

Exhaust: Long tube summit racing headers w/o2s welded in. Truck will stay true dual with single MagnaFlow cats, probably no mufflers. (Cats required for state inspection)

Transmission: 96 Explorer 4r70w 2wd

Flexplate: Mid 80s Crown Vic LTD w/351w and AOD

Computer and Harness: 97 Explorer XDT3 pcm w/ full harness

Rear axle: 9" w/3.50 gears (eventually 4.10 or 4.11)

I posted this in the need for speed section as this applies to anyone wanting to upgrade their explorer to a 351w using stock pcm (although I don't have oil pan or header concerns). Here's a pic of when I picked it up. I've had it for a little over a year now and had it running before it came in the shop.

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Yeah I saved the rear but don't need it at the moment. It's 3.73 ls.
Would you be interested in selling all the brake components? I've got an 8.8/31 from a Sport Trac to throw into the Ranger, but it's a 10" drum setup and I'm on the fence about setting it up with discs instead.
 



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How many connectors broke? Do you use OEM replacements?

Just wondering, as I might need some new ones, doing a harness swap.

I broke 3 or 4 but took my time. I cut it apart to make it easy to remove everything whole. These injector clips always break and I only broke 1 side of 1 injector.

I am cheap so I'll use used parts to make my repairs. I've got a box of harness I can steal from. I'll de-pin the original wires out and replace just the plastic part with another instead of cut/splice.
 






Would you be interested in selling all the brake components? I've got an 8.8/31 from a Sport Trac to throw into the Ranger, but it's a 10" drum setup and I'm on the fence about setting it up with discs instead.

PM sent
 






Keep the long-block?
 












Belt is on. Used a 98" belt, Napa part number 6K980.

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Looking damn good.
 






Driveshaft is from a 98 Ford E250 van with the 4.2 V6. Conversion U joint 448 was needed. It now actually has park!

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F150 fuel lines are used to get behind the cab. Made a bracket on the top of the trans to help guide the lines down. I've still got to add in fuel filter and evap stuff. It's looking like I'm using evap stuff from an 05 Focus as the metal line fits the frame nicely from steering box to behind the cab and the box is compact.

Unfortunately I've got to reroute the whole parking brake cable. Where it goes from factory it lays right on the top of transmission where the harness runs up. I was barely able to get the fuel lines to clear it but there is just nowhere safe to run the harness up but onto of the trans. Running it up though the body isn't an option either.

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Knocked the dust off it and did some work to it. Needed to raise the transmission mount to get the newly acquired Intake manifold to fit and clear the cowl. Had to reroute the transmission harness and delete the bulk connector on the side of the trans. Came out pretty clean.

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Mocked back together again with transmission spaced up .75". The Intake fits better and transmission vent still has .5" clearance till cab.

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Checking progress. Looking good!
 






@boominXplorer Way back at post #2 that has all of the distributor shaft lined up. The half flag and skinny flag Explorer shafts, I don't know if you still have these parts handy but would you think that the diameter of the circles that the flags sit upon would have the same diameter circle?
 






@boominXplorer Way back at post #2 that has all of the distributor shaft lined up. The half flag and skinny flag Explorer shafts, I don't know if you still have these parts handy but would you think that the diameter of the circles that the flags sit upon would have the same diameter circle?
Yeah the base circle the flags sit on are all the same size I believe. Unfortunately I haven't touched this project over 2 years.
I have a younger brother f150 in storage with it. Maybe next year is the year.....

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They are the same size cam sensor body only the flag changes size
 






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