I was talking to a Ford mechanic (that's all he works on) about haveing problems locating items required to modify my truck (87'/5L) from EFI/MAP to SFI/MAF. He said "Be careful what I wish for!" Mentioning "Pandoras Box" & "Worms in large containers". He said he's done 2. His own vehicle, and a customers, but never again. He said the best bang for my buck (based on my existing minor mods) would be an MSD ignition box, which would extend to spark duration of each firing (more like a double tap) & leave me with the free time I've come to know and love. Anybody familiar w/these?

 

yeah, unless your making 12:1 or higher compression, have nitrous, turbo or a supercharger, you DON'T need one. it would be useless. but if you want to buy one anyway, i can hook you up.

 

I have an MSD 5 on my truck, it idles and starts a little better, a little difference, but nothing major. If you are looking for a stand alone system, go with a Crane Fireball, the base crane has a built in rev limiter, you have to pay xtra from MSD.

 

I have to disagree with Dixie....

I think an MSD box or any Capacitive Discharge Spark Box is a GOOD idea on any vehicle...

you get multiple spark at idle and a longer stronger spark throughout the range...this also helps fire the coil at upper rpm ranges other than idle....

every vehicle I have ever put one on has gotten a better idle, crisper throttle response and better mileage...

I just put one on my 4.9L and I picked up 4mpg and throttle response was very noticeable...now thats not to say the coil was weak to begin with but with only 80,000 miles on the truck I doubt it was...

anytime you can have a MAF system over the stock Speed Density system you win...throttle response is better and mileage is about 2-4mpg better as well...plus the power is better...

you can either get the kit for 5.0L and 5.8L or find a 95 or 96 f150/f250 that has one and swap it...

MAF was availble in 95 but it depended where the truck was built...some had them and some didnt...but it was available...

my friend has a 95 f150 4x4 5.0L with a MAF and his truck is faster than mine (of coarse) and gets better mileage...he constantly gets 18mpg in the city and 24 on the highway...I have yet to break 22mpg on my 4.9L

 

I'd have to disagree as well, any kind of ignition upgrade is always a good idea...especially the msd or the crane....I've heard Mallory is a good brand as well. As for converting to MAF...its a great idea, I did it to my 89 5.8 and its the best thing I ever did to it. MAP has literally no adjustment in it whatsoever, MAF on the other hand does. Theres a couple places you can buy kits...I got mine from www.mass-air.com/ , thats a pretty pricey kit, but it has more performance parts for modified engines, bigger maf housing, dual 02 sensors, and a custom program for your app in the computer. The other is http://www.dunne-rite.com/ their kit is much more affordable and more user friendly to install than the mass air.com kit. Or like the dr was saying you can get a donor truck (95,96) and mob the harness and whatnot out of it. Anything kind of upgrades you make to it are a step in the right direction.

 

I'm wondering if it could make to much more of a difference. My stock gap calls for .044, and I'm running Sidegapped (not to be confused w/ Spark plug Indexing. I fear I lack the patience for that) stock Motorcrafts at .056. A 60k volt coil, brass cap/ rotor & 8.5 low resistance/high suppression wires gives off a much larger kernel than normal. Base Timing set at 16 BTDC. w/ K&N air filter. Using 89 octane (I'm never going to hear the end of this but 3 oz. pure Acetone / 19 gal.tank of gas). If I drive specifically for mpg I get 17/23. But on a 1700 mi.round trip to Bend Oregon & back, 85 mph, A/C blasting, luggage, tools & a Harley strapped to the bed, I averaged 19 mpg. Maybe if it's workin this well I should quit trying to fix it. Haveing only 72k & 178 psi +-2 compression helps. But that Dunne-Rite SFI/MAF kit does look interesting & affordable. Almost too good. In regard to donor parts, I was told that can't use a donor computer out of 95-96 F150's because their transmissions are computer integrated and my truck is pre-integrated. I was told to look for a Mustang 5.0 w/ standard trans for the donor. 88-93 if I remember right. Gave up after 2 full days of climbing in & out of wrecks.

 

not stupid for the Acetone....that acts as an octane booster...well actually thats what most octane boosters are and what Gumout uses as Fuel Injection Cleaner....

I say be VERY carefull with that stuff...it will turn the rubber hose between the fuel pump and line to mush...and you know what will happen next...

a larger gap makes everything work harder but can give you a hotter spark...no need to do that with an MSD box....045 is sufficient and easier on everything..cap, rotor and coil....

I'll run .060 on the gap if I have a high output coil or an MSD box...

 

It kinda depends what trans you have...if it's the aod your in good shape that's the non electric trans and you could use whatever computer you want but the e4od is and that does require the trans specific computer. That's purdy good mileage if ya ask me...my old 5.0 was always less than spectacular at 14.

 

Ya, it is but since you brought the Dunne-Rite kit @ $695. to my attention, I'm beginning to hear SFI/MAF calling out to me again! Have you used their kit? It almost sounds too good to be true. It didn't show an additional O2 sensor, but that's just for reporting the cat's performance isn't it?

 

I think its a great deal for what your after, I havent had any experience with them personally but it looks like its a great deal, I think their kit is pretty similar to the Ford Racing kit that got discontinued. It was just $750. I dont think I'd be afraid to buy it, I saw a similar kit on Spike tv, that trucks show...he was souping up a early 90s lightning with a 5.8 and he bought a single turbo kit for it and had to switch to mass air to be able to run it and I remember it was pretty much the same thing other than a bigger maf due to the boost and bigger motor. If you do it you'll see your mileage get better too. The extra 02 sens on my kit was for dual exhaust...before I switched it I was only checking 02 on one pipe, this way its giving the computer a more accurate reading. I dont even have cats on my truck anymore, that was one of the first things I hacked off when I bought it 8 years ago haha.