Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

Technical => Misc Tech => Topic started by: CougarSE on August 05, 2007, 03:13:39 AM

Title: HOW to use TC fuel lines when going 5.0
Post by: CougarSE on August 05, 2007, 03:13:39 AM
I don't know if this has been done before, I found this purely on my own kind of by accident.

On 5.0 SEFI cars the fuel lines come off the frame rail on the passenger side in front of the tire.  On 87 88 TC's ( and other years i'm sure) the hard lines end under the steering shaft on the driver side in the area of the booster.  Complete opposite sides of the engine bay.  Now what do you do if you can't find a suitable donor car for v8 lines?  While checking out a vehicle at the junkyard for parts on another project I found this.

Enter a 5.0 truck/van fuel rail.  The truck fuel lines come up under the booster, the same spot as a TC.  The hard lines are the same fittings as well. 

Here is the fuel rail on my 5.0.  Notice the lack of entry point.

(http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m167/CougarSE/TC%20Fuel%20Lines/101_0926Large.jpg)

Here is the entry point.  On the backside of the engine on the driver side.

(http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m167/CougarSE/TC%20Fuel%20Lines/101_0927Large.jpg)

This rail places the FPR under the intake kind of tight but this wont be an issue, I'll explain in a minute.

(http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m167/CougarSE/TC%20Fuel%20Lines/101_0930Large.jpg)

Here is the issue.  The passenger side rail is double stacked.  The car rail isn't like this.  The truck intake is high enough to clear but the car intake is not.  the bottom of the intake hits the rail.  Solution...  1/2" intake spacer, a good thing either way.  So with this spacer it will give the room the FPR needs. 

(http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m167/CougarSE/TC%20Fuel%20Lines/101_0929Large.jpg)

The schrader valve is in kind of a better spot.  With the required intake spacer and probably a 45 or 90 degree elbow the gauge would be in a good viewing spot. 

(http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m167/CougarSE/TC%20Fuel%20Lines/101_0928Large.jpg)

Another bonus, the stock lines that connect the fuel rail the hard lines on the rail are braided stainless.  These lines connect right up to the TC hard lines.  :hick:

(http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m167/CougarSE/TC%20Fuel%20Lines/101_0931Large.jpg)

There you have it, an easy way to deal with a hurdle presented when swapping the half motor.  :D  Now get to it!
Title: HOW to use TC fuel lines when going 5.0
Post by: jcassity on August 05, 2007, 03:36:05 AM
im lost a little bit because im not sure if your saying these are the fuel lines you want for a 2.3 or what.
Title: HOW to use TC fuel lines when going 5.0
Post by: Blown306Cougar on August 05, 2007, 03:59:43 AM
what is that fuel rail off of an explorer? or an 80's crown vic / grand marquis? just about all but not all of them.. the fuel rails for a 5.0 from the 80's had the regulator and the fuel lines on passenger side
Title: HOW to use TC fuel lines when going 5.0
Post by: CougarSE on August 05, 2007, 04:09:49 AM
That is the truck fuel rail mocked up on my 5.0 HO.  Its a 94 E-150 rail, notice the two bolt regulator.  This is my solution to the fuel line delima when swapping a 5.0 into a TC. 

I have an 88 TC and a 5.0 HO and a truck fuel rail to make it work.

You guys didn't read the whole thing did you?  The answers to both your questions are in there......
Title: HOW to use TC fuel lines when going 5.0
Post by: Haystack on August 05, 2007, 04:21:15 AM
Yes they are...

Or you could flip the intake around like on the trucks or crown vics... Or so I thought... I think I mentioned that in a thread or two, but I never had a way to verify it. I think it would be cool to have an intake flipped around on the other side.
Title: HOW to use TC fuel lines when going 5.0
Post by: TurboCoupe50 on August 05, 2007, 04:51:11 AM
Good info... I used a '87 5.0 Bird pressure line and a modified(shortened) return line...

Quote from: Haystack;166142
Yes they are...

Or you could flip the intake around like on the trucks or crown vics... Or so I thought... I think I mentioned that in a thread or two, but I never had a way to verify it. I think it would be cool to have an intake flipped around on the other side.


With the correct fuel rails it's easy enough to flip, just have to have proper throttle cable and a TB to match the hookup... No the std TB cannot be used without modifying the arm... This is mainly why you don't see many flipped, as most(if not all) aftermarket TBs are for passenger side use... Except for the '93-'95 Lightning 65mm unit, all the factory driver side TBs suck...
Title: HOW to use TC fuel lines when going 5.0
Post by: jcassity on August 05, 2007, 10:43:19 AM
Quote from: CougarSE;166141


I have an 88 TC and a 5.0 HO and a truck fuel rail to make it work.

You guys didn't read the whole thing did you?  The answers to both your questions are in there......


oh i read it ,, a couple times.

Your last statement helped "getting it to take though":D

in a one liner,,,,,,

When swapping 2.3 to a 5.0HO, use the 94 Truck or van engine fuel rail so your existing chassis fuel lines are compatable with fittings on the driver side.


really good info and pic.  this is a "save as":D
Title: HOW to use TC fuel lines when going 5.0
Post by: SLEEPER T-BIRD 87 on August 05, 2007, 11:22:16 AM
good info
Title: HOW to use TC fuel lines when going 5.0
Post by: CougarSE on August 05, 2007, 11:38:12 AM
The years of fuel rails are two bolt and three bolt FPR respective to mustang rails.  Now one thing to watch out for the three bolt rails have the fuel return coming out of the regulator at a 90 degree angle instead of the 45 my rail has.
Title: HOW to use TC fuel lines when going 5.0
Post by: vinnietbird on August 05, 2007, 12:48:04 PM
Great tech !!! That'll come in handy for those who figure out a V-8 really IS better than a 4 banger (just kidding you turbo 4 lovers......just kidding).LOL
Title: HOW to use TC fuel lines when going 5.0
Post by: CougarSE on August 05, 2007, 01:45:59 PM
As I'm tackling this project I'm looking for ways to make swapping a 5.0 into a TC cake.  I've got a few other things that I haven't revealed yet ;)  I wasn't going to mention this but the board has been pretty dry in the tech department so I thought I would throw it a bone.
Title: HOW to use TC fuel lines when going 5.0
Post by: TurboCoupe50 on August 05, 2007, 02:00:09 PM
Quote from: CougarSE;166186
As I'm tackling this project I'm looking for ways to make swapping a 5.0 into a TC cake.  I've got a few other things that I haven't revealed yet ;)  I wasn't going to mention this but the board has been pretty dry in the tech department so I thought I would throw it a bone.

While I'm sure there are some shortcuts, I for one doubt it could ever considered "cake"... Too many wiring changes to ever make this a simple swap... I went to lengths to try to make mine as "factory" as possible... Local race car builder(hard core Ford man) looked at it and said he'd never know it wasn't factory...

Tom
Title: HOW to use TC fuel lines when going 5.0
Post by: CougarSE on August 05, 2007, 08:14:30 PM
Oh wiring is cake! :)
Title: HOW to use TC fuel lines when going 5.0
Post by: TurboCoupe50 on August 05, 2007, 08:37:35 PM
Quote from: CougarSE;166254
Oh wiring is cake! :)

For you, me and a few others, but it's mostly a nightmare for those who don't understand sparktricity...  :hick:

I ran KOEO codes on my system before I ever installed the engine, had all the sensors hooked up laying on a box in the engine compartment... Had a fuel pump (was disconnected), and tranny selector(had none) codes...
Title: HOW to use TC fuel lines when going 5.0
Post by: jcassity on August 05, 2007, 09:18:00 PM
i vote for a sticky asap!

im gonna put this in my DIY link if you dont mind.
Title: HOW to use TC fuel lines when going 5.0
Post by: 1WLD BRD on August 05, 2007, 10:25:23 PM
Great info Claude, kudos to you.  How is it going to be to get at the FPR to adjust it down the road though?
Title: HOW to use TC fuel lines when going 5.0
Post by: CougarSE on August 05, 2007, 10:37:35 PM
Well, I think when I get the 1/2" spacer there will be more room to maybe get an allen key to adjust an adjustable fpr.  As it is its pretty tight.
Title: HOW to use TC fuel lines when going 5.0
Post by: CougarSE on August 06, 2007, 07:39:11 PM
For shiznits and giggles I flipped the intake around.  Guess what it hits the fuel rail even worse like that.  1/2" spacer is the only way to go.
Title: HOW to use TC fuel lines when going 5.0
Post by: jcassity on August 06, 2007, 10:28:40 PM
are you now considering the TB orientation? as well as cables?
Title: HOW to use TC fuel lines when going 5.0
Post by: CougarSE on August 06, 2007, 11:31:41 PM
Oh no.  I can't have the intake face the driver side.  There wont be enough room over there ;)  Honestly wanted to put it to rest so no one else said to flip it.  It simply wont fit.
Title: HOW to use TC fuel lines when going 5.0
Post by: bigbada1 on February 21, 2010, 01:59:01 PM
has anyone researched this out to see what years the f150 5.0 had this setup other than the 94
Title: HOW to use TC fuel lines when going 5.0
Post by: Beau on February 21, 2010, 03:24:20 PM
I'd guess from '87 up through '96. Every one I've seen are similar (and I've seen a shiznit-ton), excepting the 2 vs. 3 bolt regulator, as Claude mentioned.

(My '92 F truck has the 3 bolt FPR...)

This should be posted as well in the engine swapping section, or copied, or stickied, etc :D
Title: HOW to use TC fuel lines when going 5.0
Post by: bigbada1 on February 22, 2010, 10:12:53 PM
OK after going to the yard this weekend all of the vans had the 5.8 and all of the truck 5.0 that I found did in fact have the input tward the back but none had the braided lines all were hard lines my question is are the TC lines long enough to reach the fuel rails or do I have to find the  braided lines from a van weather its a 5.8 or 5.0 it looks to me like either had the braided lines
Title: HOW to use TC fuel lines when going 5.0
Post by: 88turbo on February 22, 2010, 10:37:13 PM
look for a truck that has the fuel filter right up by the engine on the frame rail.  this is what I will be using for my TC.  the lines going to the rail will be black plastic.