Tuning

[mrjody]

Hey all.. New to this site. I'm building a 331 ranger using a 99 explore harness and engine block. What are you guys tuning with or know of a good place to tune? Are the explores computer like the fox body computers? OR should I just use a 5.0 fox body harness and computer?

 

[CDW6212R]

Welcome, and is that the 332 thread on the Corral with good AFR head, was going to be a "B" cam, now to be custom cam?

I forget that it was for a Ranger swap. The late 1997 Explorer computer is the best for swapping to older Fords. The Ranger will need the Explorer front dress of course, and V8 radiator assuming it's a 98-10 model(same front engine bay). Those Rangers accept the Explorer engine and wiring very well, just about plug and play. Adapting an old Mustang harness would not be fun. There is more support for the old EECIV computers, but the OBDII stuff is better.

The 302 Explorers are all OBDII, so a chip isn't made, it takes a flasher device to download the old program, and to upload a new one. Those are the SCT devices, any version will work for the early OBDII PCM's like the Explorer. They run maybe $150 used on the low side, new are at $400. The programming you have to get from a tuner, or a dyno tune place that works with those flashers. Don Lasota is recommended a lot here, I'd start there if you can work with them.

 

[mrjody]

Yes Don.. That is my thread. But not a b cam..trickflow cam..well was going to.
Just curious about tuning.. Thanks for the info
Now I need injectors...30 or 36's. Any idea where to find those

 

[Blown]

Tweecer can burn a chip based on your build. Tweecer.com

I tune my rigs with a Tweecer RT.

Injectors on Ebay

 

[mrjody]

Thanks for the info.. Do they have 30-36 lbs injectors for the stock wiring?

 

[CDW6212R]

You can use any injectors, made for the 99 up Fords, or if went to the old return style system, the older injectors have different connectors. But which computer you use might require the older injector rail and injectors, plus a return line. I've got rebuilt and matched 30's for my 347, NA to go into my Lincoln. You'll be fine with those for a 332, but if you did find a blower to fit the Explorer belt drive, then it'll need injectors more like 42's or bigger.

 

[mrjody]

Yeah I wasn't aware if the explore connectors were the same on any injector..
Its a 1999 explore engine harness and computer and fuel rails

 

[CDW6212R]

Since your Ranger is 99 also, I think I'd go with the 99 PCM, and keep the PATS intact, the fuel system etc. I'm not sure if the Ranger ABS is identical to the Explorer, some others have done swaps but I can't remember if they used the Ranger ABS, or swapped the Explorer ABS module in. The Explorer 99 PCM has to have the VSS come from the ABS module, I'm not sure if that was the Explorer only, or if the Ranger did that also.

To use the 99 PCM, it also needs the same matching PATS module, and the keys. Hopefully your donor has two keys, and you can swap the PATS and key cylinders over, and not have to reprogram the PATS keys.

 

[fastpakr]

Don't worry about the key cylinder. Just keep the PCM and PATS module, but use your current keys. Use Forscan to program them in when you finish the swap. That process takes about fifteen minutes.

 

[CDW6212R]

Don't worry about the key cylinder. Just keep the PCM and PATS module, but use your current keys. Use Forscan to program them in when you finish the swap. That process takes about fifteen minutes.

I forgot about that Forscan software. I need to get into that for other data which can be accessed, but programming the PATS keys is a nice feature.

 

[mrjody]

Since your Ranger is 99 also, I think I'd go with the 99 PCM, and keep the PATS intact, the fuel system etc. I'm not sure if the Ranger ABS is identical to the Explorer, some others have done swaps but I can't remember if they used the Ranger ABS, or swapped the Explorer ABS module in. The Explorer 99 PCM has to have the VSS come from the ABS module, I'm not sure if that was the Explorer only, or if the Ranger did that also.

To use the 99 PCM, it also needs the same matching PATS module, and the keys. Hopefully your donor has two keys, and you can swap the PATS and key cylinders over, and not have to reprogram the PATS keys.

Yeah I'm am keeping everything from the explore and using it in my ranger. Wiring is simple.

 

[mrjody]

Where do I get that forscan? Will it delete the auto tans fuctions and Egr?

 

[fastpakr]

Here's a post I wrote elsewhere to describe using Forscan for key programming:

You can now program your own PATS keys without a trip to the dealer even if you don't have two working keys. Here's what you need:
1) An ELM327 interface for the OBD2 port. Not one of the $10 generic ones, but a real one (expect to spend about $30 or so). Click HERE for the unit I used successfully.
2) A Windows laptop with Forscan installed. Go HERE to download.
3) At least two PATS keys that are cut to physically work in your ignition cylinder. I used a STRATTEC key that was about $10 on eBay. Locksmiths seem to be a little finicky on cutting third party keys, but I eventually found one that did the job for $2.


You'll need to register Forscan with an extended license. You can get a 2 month license for free by following the instructions HERE.

Detailed instructions for PATS programming are HERE. I'll condense them to what I did below.

1) Insert a key and turn it to the Run position. Put the ELM327 unit in the OBD2 port, and connect it to the laptop either by Bluetooth (pair it first, then check Forscan settings to select the device) or USB cable.
2) Launch Forscan and connect it to the vehicle. If everything's working, you'll see a list of PCM modules that it has connected to through the engine computer.
3) Click the wrench icon, then look for the PATS programming option in the Service procedures. Forscan may either tell you to wait 10-12 minutes while it gets timed access to the function, or go through the incode/outcode procedure to gain access. For incode info, click the detailed instructions link above. On my '99, I just had to wait 10 minutes to proceed to the next step.
4) Once you're in, follow the menu to erase all existing keys, then when prompted program each of your PATS keys to the system. Basically, you'll take the current key out, wait 10 seconds, then insert a key to the Run position and count to three, and do the same with any remaining keys. Once you're done programming keys, press OK and you can close out Forscan.

This should dramatically simplify V8 swaps, because you can just swap the PATS module that's paired to the new ECM into your truck, then program your current keys to the new ECM/module. No trip to the dealer required.

Post here if you have basic questions and I'll try to point you in the right direction. For more involved issues, register at the Forscan forum linked above and ask away there.
Good luck!

Hope that helps. Forscan definitely supports other use cases, but to my knowledge it's not able to do things like EGR function delete.