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Ford Explorer Community - Maintenance - Modifications - Performance Upgrades - Problem Solving - Off-Road - Street
Explorer Forum Covers the Explorer ST, Explorer Sport, Explorer Sport Trac, Lincoln Aviator, Mercury Mountaineer, Mazda Navajo, Ford Ranger, Mazda Pickups, and the Ford Aerostar
So last Friday I squeezed some time in at the track. I couldn't stay long but got three runs in.
It was around 80 degrees F outside and there had been some storm clouds threatening but never rained.
I ran the truck with a 3.3 inch pulley on it to slow the supercharger down and lower boost while increasing spark advance.
Went from 3.2 to 3.3 inch pulley and max boost was around 17.5 down from being pinned at 20 last year.
First run 13.78. Then added 2 degrees and ran 13.664, then added 2 degrees and ran 13.499.
This was all within 33 minutes.
I noticed during the last run that there was some detonation detected and when I looked at the datalog the PCM had pulled .5 of a degree of timing.
So with the 3.3 inch pulley I now have a tune with 2 degrees timing added an no detonation.
With the 3.2 inch there is 2 degrees less timing advance but more boost.
My next experiment is to run both pulleys with their specific tunes back to back and see how it responds.
I wish I had time to put the 3.2 back on and run it again but that will have to wait until next time I get there.
At least I have the tunes ready for quick back to back runs.
I am using the vampire and the PCM together.
The vampire does most of the work, when there is detonation the gauge lights up letting me know.
Then I go look at the datalog and see what rpm the PCM detected it at.
My stock sensor is wired to both the PCM and Vampire, I did not disable the PCMs function either.
Since I had a factory knock sensor wired to pcm, I don't need to input the Vampire to the analog input of the X4 if that makes sense.
Have you decided whether the stock PCM is better for having the knock sensor circuit built in, whereas the 302 PCM doesn't have it(or use it). I'm pondering whether the Vampire used with the 302 PCM is the way to go like Don has, or maybe adapt a later 4.6 PCM, if it could be easier or better to tune with. The boosted combination is the only one I've thought of that for, a tuner on the Corral suggested it a long while back.
That is an interesting idea to adapt the 4.6 pcm to run a 5.0L
I appreciate each newer PCM design which have faster processors and more adjustable things in the tune.
I would always suggest going with a Mustang PCM when possible because that's where all the focus(no pun intended) is in racing/tuning these days.
The down side would be the amount of work to graft it in and possibly not be able to get it inspected if you live in one of those areas like I do.
I did see an awesome Ford Thunderbird with the 32 valve 4.6 swapped into it. The two harnesses were grafted together and the PCM was from a Mustang so tuning possibilities were numerous.
The student who owned it told me it did not have communications, I looked at it with him and found the circuit for either pin 4 or 5 at the OBD2 data link connector was open. 4 and 5 are both grounds, one body and one pcm. Since one was good I jumped them with a paperclip behind the connector as a quick test and it communicated. Found a handful of O2 sensor codes in it too.
Yeah, the idea is to use a faster computer, and the COP ignition isn't a bad idea either. I'm doing a harder wiring swap with my old Lincoln, so to mix a 4.6 engine harness with the 302 wouldn't be bad. Finding space for the coils would be interesting, and those aren't cheap.
I have the heads and am just waiting for the camshafts.
And of course the time to put them in.
I hope to have them done by Black Friday for Atco Raceways all day racing event.
I have the heads and am just waiting for the camshafts.
And of course the time to put them in.
I hope to have them done by Black Friday for Atco Raceways all day racing event.