hi folks , i have an 88 t-bird sport that i swapped in the HO with the 5 speed and 8.8 posi out of an 88 mustang . i changed all engine related sensors and the computer, it runs smooth and has all kinds of berries :D however the idle is around 1200-1500 rpms and it runs very rich - this aint no skeeter killer when this thing runs crows fall out of the sky and smoking would be fatal ! i have replaced almost every sensor under the hood with no results . it did seem to run a little on the rich side in the mustang but i dont remember this much smoke or the eye burning stench of raw fuel at the tailpipes or the gas in the oil , it doesnt seem to be burning oil just getting more gas than it can actually burn , im out of ideas and about ready to throw a match at this thing :flame: any ideas would be greatly appreciated
Is it mass air?
Map sensor unplugged?
TPS?
O2 sensor?
Any vacuum unplugged?
Im out of idea.... :dunno:
I have to ask:
1) Did you use the Mustang HO computer when you did the swap?
2) Which wiring harness did you use? If the t-bird harness did you re-pin it for different firing order?
3) Are your o2 sensors plugged in to their respective wiring harnesses? The wiring on one of mine broke once and then I couldn't stand within 10 feet of the car without my eyes tearing up...
4) If all this is good..What is your car's idle RPM in Park and then drive?
sounds like how my motor ran with 19lb injectors and the stock EEC, my money says the stock computer thats setup for 14lb injectors is still in the car :nono:
Guys you ain't readin what's posted, he said he swapped the the computer..
BTW the Bird harness does NOT have to be repinned for the HO firing order, that is automatically taken care of by the EEC.
Assuming its a speed densety system, sounds like the problem is either a bad MAP(or no/low vaccum to it), or a leaking fuel pressure regulator. Does it have any error codes?
Does the engine have a performance cam installed?? If so low vaccum signal to the MAP will cause rich idling.
LOL missed that my bad Tomas :rollin:
yes it does have the mustang computer,yes it is speed density, tried 3 different map sensors good vaccum at the sensor, no vaccum leaks-chased all hoses and gaskets with throttle body cleaner, no engine codes, tried 3 different pressure regulators 2 that i knew worked in simmilar cars, new tps, new 02 sensors tried switching the plug ins no change at all, tried adding ground cables- engine to chassis- no difference . when i got the donor mustang i was told it was bored 30 over , it is very possible the guy put a different cam in not knowing speed density wouldnt pick up on the change. last summer after i finished the swap i had it towed to work (local garage with good fringe bennies) and custom bent the exhaust while it was there we - my self and 2 of the other techs looked over everything to no avail and the assistant managers genissis scan tool was down so no help from broken expensive oversized gameboy! think the computer is brain dead? maybe a good excuse to convert to mass air? thanks for the ideas, keep them coming please !
It would be a good idea to check the amount of vaccum the engine is producing.... If it doesn't have at least 16"-17" you're gonna have problems. My Trick Flow cam only produces 12" at 800 rpms, so Mass Air was mandatory for me...
Sounds like you've about covered it all, possibly the EEC may be bad. Doesn't happen often but I've seen or heard of half dozen or so with various quirky problems. Two were 5.0 EECs that would flood the engine on a hot restart.
Hey welcome to the board cobra88bird... If you convert it to Mass air you can pick up the harness from IST.. for ~$35 IST's website (http://www.mass-air.com/Products.htm)
also, i second checking the fuel pressure regulator
it seems like i can remember checking the vaccum at one point and i want to say it was around 14" but ill check it again when i have a chance , i already have a maf sensor and the wiring harness along with a very ported intake setup ( not on the car yet) that i picked up from a local ford fanatic (65$ for everytihng)all i need is the computer to do the swap but he highly encouraged me to get a set of world products heads , f303 cam , and several other goodies and do everything at once, he said he ran a simmilar setup in a crown vic and there werent many cars around here that would touch it at the strip - 1/8 mile . i have been looking around the site and you guys have some real nice looking cars ! mine aint that sharp, i live in the great state of maine and road salt has taken its toll on the poor car , but i found a good a good set of doors , and fenders after a year of searching hopefully by fall it will at least be all the same color and if i can figure this computer out ill post a pic! thanks for the info. any suggestions on future mods are welcome i would like this to be a streetable car that will hold its own at the track , i have yet to drive it anywhere yet(legaly) as this is a toy and funds are limited right now.
I'd stay away from that F cam if your going to be running it on the street. It has more duration than my Stage-1 Trick Flow and its all I'd want in a 5.0. I have to fight surging idle in cool weather(under 55*-60*)on cold starts, and the F will prob be even worse...If it only has 14" of vac sounds like there is already a E or something similar installed.. Which ain't a bad cam for a street occasional strip car.
I did the same swap with no problems. The computer should have a "D1" sticker on it. I was told you cannot use the computer from an AOD HO, only the 5 spd computer will work. Check the size and condition of the injectors. I replaced mine with reconditioned ones (19#) and they work fine. See the tech section in coolcats for info on your swap and EEC info. As mentioned above, the mustang computer will take care of the new firing order. Good luck.
BAH its a old wives tale... prior to '94 either stick or auto EEcs work just fine for one another.
I HAVE A 88 too. My car does the exact same thing yours is doing.
I also did the swap but i used a 86 gt motor with low miles. I used the 86 mustang motor harness and 02 sensor wire harness and plugged them into the Tbird's main wiring harness. My car does the same thing you're saying. The one thing my car is doing that you didn't mention is my fuel pump continues to run all the time .example when you turn the key to the run, not crank , the pump comes on and pressurizes the fuel system, well mine just runs, and runs. it does cut off when the key is turned off though. LET ME KNOW HOW YOURS TURNS OUT .......GOOD LUCK.......ED
i finally stumbled on the answer last week out of sheer anxiety i changed the o2 wiring harness ( i can find NOTHING wrong with the one i took out ) but i changed it for kicks and giggles the car starts , runs , and idles great now ! im dumbfounded i cant find anything wrong with the other harness but it will not run right with the mustang 02 harness and yes it has the same wires in the same places , i put in a harness out of another 5.0 bird and it runs great , however there is no extra wiring to reach the sensors it just barley reaches. It is just a little rich when you punch the throttle now - im assuming it will take a short while of running the way it should to re-adjust everything . thanks for all the suggestions!
p.s. i work with a guy who has an 86 camaro with a lightly worked 355 automatic and he is running the 1/8 mile in 9.2 , he wants me to hurry up and get this car on the road so he can race me. i want to hand him his a** when i do . do i stand a chance with this car /stock 5.0 ho , 5speed , 3.55 posi / or should i hold my peace untill i have the cash to add some goodies? suggestions?
Glad you got it fixed....
You're gonna have hard time beating the Camero, as the 9.2 is gonna equal a low/mid 14. He'll likely take you just because of the extra cubic inches.
Suggeston, take it out and see what it will do and don't let him know....
yeah thats pretty much what i was thinking , guess thats a good excuse to get it registered and drive it!