[mustangguy87]

Hey guys! First post in probably over a year and is finally about my cars!! I just picked up a minty 88 notch 2.3/5sp for cheap (of the 7 fox's I've had it is the nicest). I want to swap it badly as it's worthy of the time and energy needed to do it. I also have a 88 LX hatch 5.0/AOD (has an 89 MAF engine harness in it already).

Here is my main questions - I understand all the 5.0 wiring, brakes, fuel has to come over. I'm prepared for that.. where I couldn't find much discussion IS going from an auto to manual trans. I plan to use the 4cyl trans with a diesel ranger pilot bearing my main questions are -

1. I know I need to swap the AOD wiring for the 5sp wiring - my question is how? does it simply plug in?? Is the o2 wiring in with it?

2. Can I use the AOD ECU with the 5sp? I have heard that they can be used and the only difference is the auto ECU's do not retard timing during shifts like the manual ECU to drop RPM faster

3. I have an old Crane InterceptorII ECU tuner that works (currently plugged in the hatch) does anyone know if this has options for rewriting the ECU for the swap? I don't have a manual for it sadly, and it seems to just write over/ auto adjust perimeters of the stock ECU for a turbo/Nitrous setup.. plus allow custom on the fly tuning

Sorry if this was covered and I didn't see it, sad to say I have owned 7 fox's and all were 5.0/5sp car's except the current 2, and never done a swap..

 

[mustangguy87]

Awesome thank you! I was worried I'd have to try to find another o2 harness! I was thinking I'd have to swap all the wiring from the 5.0 hatch to the notch, and the notch don't have A/C factory haha

So just plug the EEC 5.0 harness into the 4cyl's current wiring basically? (dash harness), and install the 5.0 cluster/EEC in the passenger side kick panel?

 

[mustangguy87]

Late response but generically speaking yes.

5.0 swaps are pretty stupid easy on these cars. You can plug and play 99% of it, and for the other 1% most of anything being added/taken away has the correct mounting spots on the body already.

I suggest on the cluster to swap the tach/speedometer into the 4cyl cluster as a majority of the time the plastic boards are better on a 4cyl cluster. It's what I did with mine and it's turned out a lot better than a straight 5.0 cluster swap.

Thanks man! I will do the tach/speedo swap for sure. Will be pretty easy since I plan to put white overlays on the faces anyway!

The only part of the wiring I'm worried about is the AOD ECU running a T5, and the o2 harness - I plan to clean and rewrap all the wiring anyway so I will verify it all then..