I'm not sure if this should go in the Engine or Electrical section, so if it needs to be moved, that's not a problem.
Anyways, as dad and I have started gathering some 5.0 HO stuff for the conversion, we came across (and won) an auction on ebay for a Mustang 5.0 HO 5 speed computer. I figured it would be best since it will work with the automatic, help acceleration a bit over the automatic version, and in the future when I finally get a 5 speed for the car, I won't have to change the comp. Well, dad and I noticed in the description that the computer can be "chipped" and we have no idea what that means. From the sound of it, it seems to be something that can be used to maximize performance or something, but I was wondering if anybody here could shed some light on this. Just to clear everything up, here's the description straight from the auction page:
"THIS IS THE COMPUTER FROM A 1987 FORD MUSTANG GT 5.0 5-SPEED THAT CAN BE CHIPPED. NOT ALL THE 5-SPEED COMPUTERS CAN BE CHIPPED BUT THIS IS ONE OF THE BAD BOYS THAT CAN BE."
I'm sorry for the caps; that's how it was typed out on the page. Any help/info would be appreciated!
I think that means buying an aftermarket performance chip for it which basically just retunes everything from what Im understanding on them
Yes, that is what "chipped" means, you can put a custom chip in there to alter the parameters of the computer for better performance, etc. However, you do not want to get a computer for a manual transmission, from what I understand, it will not work in an automatic. If you have an auto now and plan on making it a manual later, you can buy a computer for an automatic and still use it after you put the 5 speed in. Trust me, my car is a 5 speed with an automatic mustang computer in it.
"it is acceptable to use a manual transmission computer in an automatic car (but you cannot do the reverse). The timing curve and sensor adjustments are a little more responsive with a manual computer, giving you better throttle response and slightly improved 0-60 times."
from the coolcats website.
Addendum to that:
"You can use an automatic computer with a manual transmission with good results."
We've been through this a few times (Tom has more info) and have found that you can put either computer with either transmission and it all works just the same.
you know I was going to ask how the computer knows the difference on what tranny is in the car. there cant be that much of a difference other then you have to manually shift one and not the other as well as the ammount of gears
That's a speed density computer right?
I can't think of a computer that can't be chipped.
well honestly with all the chip advancements theyve made dont they have them for near any car with a computer?
Oh ok, cool, thanks for the info.
And yes, I matched the part number of the chip with the chip numbers given on the cool cats site, so it's what I need.
The computer doesn't know what tranny is in it. Its programed for a certian tranny. Having done two Ford 5 speed swaps with both vehicles running EEC-IV I can tell you that running an auto computer on a 5 speed is a bitch. When you let off the gas it opens the Iac all the way (this is to keep the car from stalling at a light in an auto) and when you shift you can feal a change in the timing or fuel curve wich causes the car to hickup or buck when you go from one gear to another, but only at normal driving and shifting. When you are driving like a mad man it is pretty much fine.
In the ranger, I had an option to go to a 5 speed computer, and it solved all of the driveability problems. Now in the Cougar I dont have a 5 speed computer available to me.
kingcars, if you could post the id# off of that eec, it'd help up to help you identify exactly WHICH eec it is, be it sd or mass-air...
I'm sure some of us can tell you to look at a few numbers/letters at the end, that'll id it for ya easily, but mysef, I don't know them..
I do know that A9L is one of the most sought after mass-air eec's though..can be pricey from ebay, too :rolleyes:
The problem with your Cat with the 5-speed is likely localized to your vehicle. My Cat has none of those issues with the mass air conversion and auto computer on the 5 speed. I know a few other people that have put manual trannies in their auto mass air fox mustangs with absolutely no driveability issues whatsoever.