Need help with my V8 swap

[2000StreetRod]

Sensor voltage?

Did you check the sensor voltage and the keep alive memory voltage?

Did the 5.0 engine run when you bought it? If so, I doubt that your PCM is bad. Your CEL illuminates when you switch to run. Do all the other normal indicators illuminate? Such as seat belt, air bag, O/D, etc? I lost my temporary Owner's Guide download to refer to. Does the 97 have a "theft" indicator? Is it active when you crank the engine? Even if your PCM is bad you want to make sure the wiring to it is correct before trying another.

 

[2000StreetRod]

flasher & relay module

. . .What's this yellow box for???

I believe that is the turn/hazard flasher

. . .After going alittle farther under the dash... I found another box of relays... would any of these be antitheft.. I'm believing that the relays in the back aren't antitheft. . . Here's a better pic.. 7 relays

I believe that is the relay module. One of them should be the anti-theft relay. However, according to my wiring diagram the anti-theft relay only prevents the starter from cranking. It has nothing to do with the ignition. Can you check your 1997 wiring diagrams that you have on loan?

 

[2000StreetRod]

anti-theft relay wires

The wires going to and from the anti-theft relay are:

red/light blue jumper between pins 1 and 3
red/light blue to pin 1
light green/purple to pin 2
white/pink or pink to pin 4

If you pull the anti-theft relay then the starter should not crank with the ignition key in start

 

[2000StreetRod]

RAP module connections

According to the computer data lines wiring diagram, pin 7 is common with the RAP module, the air bag diagnostic monitor, the 4WABS control module, the generic electronic module and the automatic ride control module.

If you're getting a rapid or continuous anti-theft light when you try to start the engine I suggest trying to enter the 5 digit RAP module code by turning the key on and off 5 times in less than 10 seconds, etc.

 

[Axial32]

Nope.. I forgot to mention that there is no theft light on...
Thanks for all that info. streetrod.. I didn't know any of that until you said it...

I did find another problem.. which I hope is the final thing and it will fire up tomorrow...
The cam position sensor is BAD... really bad.. the electric distrubor is even worse.. I need a whole new one... I'll post pics in a minute

 

[Axial32]

Here's the top of the whole assembly

I don't think the top of the shaft is suppose to look like that

Here's the inside of the cap

Here's the rusty dust that fell out of the cap

I actually didn't buy the explorer... I used the parts off this one to fix another one.. and they gave me what was left.. which was basically everything b/c all she needed was a core support, hood, fender, radiator, fan. I cutoff the whole front clip, framerails and all and kept it in the back under a tarp until I needed it. If you look for my thread about the new addition.. that's got everything about the two explorers and what they looked like. We then scrapped w.e. we thought we didn't need.

 

[Explorer Junky]

Why does everybody want to do V8 swaps with the ridiculous price of gas now? it's not like the v6's are under powered. i'd recommend repairing (or rebuilding) the v6.

I have a 97 XLT with the 5.0 and my dad has exact same truck only in blue with the 4.0 XLT/ There is only ONE MPG difference city between the two. Highway.. I come out better at 20 he is at 19!! Go figure.

 

[Explorer Junky]

if you get this in, and running, make a thread PLEASE! you have no idea how long i have wanted to do this, but cant find a donor (v8's are hard to come by here for what ever reason).

I have a 5.0 for sale for the right price!! WINK WINK!!

 

[Axial32]

Yea... it's not all that hard of a swap... and mine's different b/c it's into a sport. I don't believe I've heard of anyone in michigan or indiana with a V8 sport.

If i get it fired up tomorrow.. you wanna come and check it our ExplorerJunky... since you're in GR and I'm in Hamilton.???

Maybe we can meet up in zeeland/holland area... since I live in zeeland but the work is all being done at my grandparents' house in hamilton

 

[Explorer Junky]

Yea... it's not all that hard of a swap... and mine's different b/c it's into a sport. I don't believe I've heard of anyone in michigan or indiana with a V8 sport.

If i get it fired up tomorrow.. you wanna come and check it our ExplorerJunky... since you're in GR and I'm in Hamilton.???

Maybe we can meet up in zeeland/holland area... since I live in zeeland but the work is all being done at my grandparents' house in hamilton

Thanks for the invite. But I have family plans during the day and a 20 year class Reunion at night!! But, hey, I give you credit for undertaking this journey. I just had a new 5.0 put in my 97 Ex with 1.7 full rollers, and TMH's. I just had Glenn at G&M Express cut my new front cats in. Purrs like a kitten. It has some get up and go!! Good luck keep us posted. we may have to meet on another day.

 

[Axial32]

That's awesome that you know glenn... I know glenn really well he's done my exhaust on the exploder and he's done a couple of other exhausrt systems for us... I will probably get him to do mine again.. But yea.. Just give me a PM w.e. You wanna chill.. I'm starting schooling on monday in indianapolis and I'll be back on the weekends...

 

[2000StreetRod]

synchronizer & camshaft position sensor

Nope.. I forgot to mention that there is no theft light on...
Thanks for all that info. streetrod.. I didn't know any of that until you said it...

I did find another problem.. which I hope is the final thing and it will fire up tomorrow...
The cam position sensor is BAD... really bad.. the electric distrubor is even worse.. I need a whole new one... I'll post pics in a minute

A bad synchronizer and camshaft position sensor should not prevent ignition spark. They are used by the PCM to determine when to energize the fuel injectors. The V8 will start and run with a bad camshaft position sensor. The fuel pulse will just be "stale" - not injected as the intake valve is opening.

 

[Axial32]

Dangit.. I was hopeing this would solve the problem... Well... Besides antiftheft seems like the only thing it could be is the PCM...

 

[Axial32]

The wires going to and from the anti-theft relay are:

red/light blue jumper between pins 1 and 3
red/light blue to pin 1
light green/purple to pin 2
white/pink or pink to pin 4

If you pull the anti-theft relay then the starter should not crank with the ignition key in start

What if it does prohibit the engine from firing... how would I bypass the relay and still have everything else work..?

 

[Axial32]

Yep, you were correct streetrod... no crank with the relay out... So I have no clue what else is the problem. My luck is that I need a new computer(EEC-V/PCM)

 

[2000StreetRod]

anti-theft issues?

The starter circuit does not use the pcm. It consists of the key switch, starter relay, and the starter solenoid and likely some fuses in there as well. If you aren't getting it to crank, then something is off in that circuit.

I would try to find a wiring diagram and start from there. It makes things so much easier. I don't have one for a 97.

Did you use a stock 99 PCM for your conversion or an aftermarket controller?

If you used the stock PCM did you encounter PATS issues? How did you resolve them?

 

[Axial32]

Both of my explorers were 97's so I didn't have to worry about the PATS... I used the stock computer.. I might be going to get another one though.

 

[2000StreetRod]

question for 99SportX

Both of my explorers were 97's so I didn't have to worry about the PATS... I used the stock computer.. I might be going to get another one though.

I was asking 99SportX about his conversion hoping he might provide some insight.

 

[Axial32]

oh ... my bad...

I just picked up another computer from LKQ.. it came out of a 96... so maybe that might help... if not it's going on ebay.

 

[ranger7ltr]

Question on testing the PCM...

It has been years since I even had to get this done but does Autozone still have the ability to test the PCM? I know they did when I was using the EEC-IV system for my V8 conversions...

But I never had to test an EEC-V unit...