302 to 351w swap

[SlowJoe]

i am swapping a 351w in my 87 f150. i have searched and it seems like i will have to chip my ecm to make it run right. does anyone know for sure? should i get the ecm out of the 93 that the engine came from? it was a auto and mine is a 4 speed. thanks

[Italian LX]

i am swapping a 351w in my 87 f150. i have searched and it seems like i will have to chip my ecm to make it run right. does anyone know for sure?
Not sure if the '87 F150 has an SEFI motor, but if it does, you would definitely need to swap the ECU. The 351W uses the 302HO firing order and your truck 302 (and ECU) would use a non-HO firing order.

I'm not real familiar with the wiring and workings of the truck motor's fuel injection system, but their could be a lot of other things that become an issue too. Things like different wiring pin-outs between the ECU's, MAF curves, and load calculations (due to larger displacement).

Maybe someone else that has done this swap can give some more info.

[EHardy1971]

Same basic setup, so the ECU from the '93 would work. I've heard some people say that the earlier (pre-'89) trucks had batch fire, but my best advice is to grab the engine harness too while you're at it just to be on the safe side. I know Ford loved to change crap on these trucks mid-year for no apparent reason. Example, mine is an early build '95, and uses different wheel seals, and a few other parts from the trucks with a build date of 5/'95 and up.

[SlowJoe]

i know they have the same upper intake. the swap is not that big of deal but dont think the ecm will run it good.

[EHardy1971]

i know they have the same upper intake. the swap is not that big of deal but dont think the ecm will run it good.
It's the same engine altogether until '95. That's when the 302's in the trucks went to the 351/H.O. firing order. Just swap the computer and you should be good.

[SlowJoe]

well my truck wires up 15426378 and the windsor wires 13726548. so looks like i will have to do the ecu swap.

[93cobra1928]

You could just swap cams...

Edit- Nevermind, it's way too early to think clearly :doh:

[EHardy1971]

well my truck wires up 15426378 and the windsor wires 13726548. so looks like i will have to do the ecu swap.
:yup:
You could just swap cams...

Edit- Nevermind, it's way too early to think clearly :doh:
:rofl:

[QWKSNKE]

You could just swap cams...

Edit- Nevermind, it's way too early to think clearly :doh:

No you were somewhat correct. ECU does not control the firing order. Just reroute the wires to a 351 order and it should work

[TheJeanyus]

ECU does not control the firing order.
That's what I was thinking. All that controls the firing order is the way it's wired, right? :think:

[93cobra1928]

I know the cam controls the firing order but if it's SEFI the ECU controls the order the injectors fire.
There are ways to change it but it's a pita. Granted
this is all from fuzzy memory.

[EHardy1971]

No you were somewhat correct. ECU does not control the firing order. Just reroute the wires to a 351 order and it should work

That's what I was thinking. All that controls the firing order is the way it's wired, right? :think:
True, but the injectors' firing order are controlled by the ECU.;)

I know the cam controls the firing order but if it's SEFI the ECU controls the order the injectors fire.
There are ways to change it but it's a pita. Granted
this is all from fuzzy memory.
You're tracking.:nice:

[QWKSNKE]

EDIT.. disregard. ...

[TheJeanyus]

I know the cam controls the firing order but if it's SEFI the ECU controls the order the injectors fire.
There are ways to change it but it's a pita. Granted
this is all from fuzzy memory.
The cam doesn't control the firing order, it dictates the firing order that's necessary to make it work.

I didn't think about the injectors being "fired" by the ECU though. My 351 in my Capri had a carb, so I didn't have to worry about that. :lol:

[EHardy1971]

I think there may have been some confusion on the type of EFI Ford used over the years, and I should have clarified. The '87-'93's used batch fire (which royally SUCKS!), and the '94-'96 used SEFI.

[QWKSNKE]

I think there may have been some confusion on the type of EFI Ford used over the years, and I should have clarified. The '87-'93's used batch fire .

Exactly. which is what I had put in my post that edited out. If it is a batch fire system then the ecu does not need to be changed out.

[EHardy1971]

Exactly. which is what I had put in my post that edited out. If it is a batch fire system then the ecu does not need to be changed out.
:yup: I didn't see your OP, but I forgot to mention batch fire and thought I'd clarify. I wouldn't say for a fact that batch fire went all the way to '93 on all trucks, from my personal experiences. Ford changed a LOT of stuff from year to year, and sometimes mid-year as in the case of the '95's like mine and Waypastcrazy's.

[SlowJoe]

he wants 30 bucks for the other ecu. should i just try mine?

[EHardy1971]

he wants 30 bucks for the other ecu. should i just try mine?
Try yours first. Like QWK said, being a batch fire, it should work.

[waypastcrazy]

Lol i told you that while back.

[waypastcrazy]

Also the 351 ecu on 94 96 is same as the earlier trucks only the 94 96 302 ecm were changed thats why the 351 didnt get mass air in the trucks.someone correct me if i am wrong because i not 100 percent.i am efi ignorant lmbo.

[waypastcrazy]

My neighbor put a ho engine in his 89 bronco and it fired right up.2 different firing orders.

[waypastcrazy]

They had to change something in 94 for the electric controled trannies.hmm where is Dale he could prob clear this up lol

[EHardy1971]

Also the 351 ecu on 94 96 is same as the earlier trucks only the 94 96 302 ecm were changed thats why the 351 didnt get mass air in the trucks.someone correct me if i am wrong because i not 100 percent.i am efi ignorant lmbo.
Not all the '94-'95 302 trucks had mass air, only the automatic ones. Manual trucks were still speed density until '96 (and '97 on the 250/350), where they all went mass air.

They had to change something in 94 for the electric controled trannies.hmm where is Dale he could prob clear this up lol
:yup: Yep, different ECU on the auto trucks due to all the sensors in the tranny.

[waypastcrazy]

So if you use a automatic ecu with a manual tranny what happens?I am in the process of doing this swap on mine with a 351. Joe what is the donor ecu auto or stick?I am getting mixed reviews on how it will affect the truck.Will it even be an issue beings it speed density?
Oops thread hi jack lol.thx

[EHardy1971]

It won't run right unless you do the mass air swap. Not sure about the tranny functions, but I don't think they would be much of an issue, but I'm not 100% on that part.

[waypastcrazy]

It won't run right unless you do the mass air swap. Not sure about the tranny functions, but I don't think they would be much of an issue, but I'm not 100% on that part.
All i am swapping is the tranny auto to stick.my truck is already 351 speed density.

[EHardy1971]

All i am swapping is the tranny auto to stick.my truck is already 351 speed density.
I don't think it would be an issue as far as how it runs, but it may throw some codes.

[waypastcrazy]

That what i have been told.the overdrive light will flash but i will not have one of those.lol

[EHardy1971]

That what i have been told.the overdrive light will flash but i will not have one of those.lol
Pull the OD light bulb out. Problem solved.:jester:

[SlowJoe]

hey we red necks where is the black tape:jester: