Fordrules96

Thanks for the help I got it to crank after I got home from work I found that I forgot to plug in the neutral safety switch. Eric thanks for pointing that out.
Now I need to figure out why it isn't getting spark.

Eric Fullerton

I haven't messed with distributors for a while, but if you suspect you need the 95 wiring, the innards likely unscrew and could be transferred with the distributor in place. that should get you back to the 95 plug without having to mess with trying to get the whole thing swapped and correctly timed.

Chris_1

iTrader: (1)

I would think that an 88 would have a distributor mounted ICM - totally different from the fender mounted ICM on the 95.
So yes I would think you have to swap the distributor, but check the gear on the bottom of them to make sure you don't have a machined gear (roller cam) on the 95 distributor. Not many, but some came with a roller.
And the engine wiring harness and some of the sensors may not match up.

Basically, the 2 blocks are virtually the same, but the engine management systems are 7 years apart so you have to swap everything that has to do with engine management from the 95 onto the 88 motor.

Fordrules96

I had a feeling I would have to do that. Of course the computer would freak out and not want to work with one thing unplugged. Not a big deal I will swap it when I have time.

Thanks for all the help guys!

Fordrules96

I finally got the new distributor for the truck. Now it runs. I took it out for a little test drive overall ok, but it died a couple times when I let it idle and the headlights were getting brighter then dimmer and brighter then dimmer and on and on. When I moved the steering wheel back and forth it seemed to loose power and the battery gauge was rapidly moving from left to right.

Anyone know what might be the problem here?

Eric Fullerton

Bad electrical connection, I'd start with the battery, then grounds that were disturbed during the swap. Might check the wire on the alternator that is on a stud with a nut, easy to leave that one loose in the heat of an engine change. Install redundant ground wires at any opportunity, especially to the starter.

Fordrules96

I finished checking all of the grounds and everything is tight. It still doing it. It is weird, when I turn the steering wheel back and forth it seemed to loose power and the rpm drop really low to the point where it almost dies. Sometimes when it idles it dies and when I try to drive it dies. I don't know but I guess it's possible that it could be a hair out of time since I changed the distributor. It seems to run smooth when it is running though.

Chris_1

iTrader: (1)

Sounds (to me) like your alternator is not charging - whether that's because you hooked up the wires wrong or the alternator is just dying is still in question. But it sounds pretty classic alternator issues - might be something else but I think I'd make sure it's 100% first.
You did use the alternator from the 95, not the 88 I hope. They're very different and wired different.