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Topic: Engine Harness Question (Read 2896 times) previous topic - next topic

Engine Harness Question

I've been looking over my car and my wiring is in pretty sad shape. For example I found some wires that were split, frayed and separated. A couple are cut off completely. My motor is on it's way out so eventually it will be coming out. I've patched my wiring as much as I can temporarily but when I pull the motor, I'd like to replace all the wiring.

Painless offers an EFI Harness for 86-95 5.0. It's wired for mass air cars and since I'll be keeping my car mass air that shouldn't be a problem.
Painless Harness

So here is my question.
Would this harness work or would I be better off getting a harness from a 5.0 bird or cougar at the bone yard and rearranging the pins? The price isn't of concern.

I'm just not sure if I will have any sensor or connector issues with the painless harness.
Thanks.

Re: Engine Harness Question

Reply #1
Don't think that harness will plug into a bird,mustang harness is definetly very different in many aspects.

 

Re: Engine Harness Question

Reply #2
yeah dude, definatly keep an eye out for an 88 5.0 car

reason i say 88, is because i think the harness's slightly change through the years, ill check it out sometime soon
It's Gumby's fault.

Re: Engine Harness Question

Reply #3
I'm just scanning my options. I read on the cool cats site under the maf conversion section, that you can use a harness off an 89 maf mustang. Since this kit works on the 86 to 89 pre air bag cars I figured it could be used without issues. Just "kicking tires" so to speak. I really want to put in some decent unmolested wiring into this thing.

Re: Engine Harness Question

Reply #4
86,87 and 88 harness's are all differn't at the firewall on the drivers side.  I'm not sure what a mustang would look like but if you got that harness the thing would need repinned.  it will also locate your various egr sensors and map in the wrong spot (cause you still need it, but you know that).  Does it come with the injector harness?  Some cars run the oil sending unit and coolant temp sensors through the injector harness and some run them on a seperate harness.

Oh yeah

86 has a round connector and a square one with a couple singles
87 has two round ones and a small round one
88 has two round connectors
One 88

Re: Engine Harness Question

Reply #5
Yeah, if I go for used wiring out of a junk car, I'm definately getting it out of an 88.
 I really like the new replacement wiring though. I see the point how the connectors/wire for some sensors may be in the wrong place but I'm a little confused on why I would have to repin the harness. I would be connecting the new maf replacement harness to my already existing mustang maf computer. I must be missing something. I'm not trying to be a moron but for some reason I still don't seem to get it. Unless the problem of repinning has to do with the pin locations that have to be moved to complete the maf conversion on the cougar harness. But with the new harness, the pins are already in the proper location since the harness is wired for maf. Must be the end connectors at those wires that are different. Are you confused? I know I am.

Re: Engine Harness Question

Reply #6
Quote
86,87 and 88 harness's are all differn't at the firewall on the drivers side.

Yep, lol. Been there done that, got the stupid t-shirt. :D
95 Ranger Splash 2.3
88 Tbird Sport :ies::ies:
5.0 SO, stainless shorty headers, w/ Magnaflow lers. KYB struts, KYB shocks. 5lug conversion from sn95 Mustang, subframe connectors, drilled and slotted rotors, 03 Mach 1 wheels. sequential taillights.140 speedo

Re: Engine Harness Question

Reply #7
Quote from: 5.0willgo
I'm just scanning my options. I read on the cool cats site under the maf conversion section, that you can use a harness off an 89 maf mustang. Since this kit works on the 86 to 89 pre air bag cars I figured it could be used without issues. Just "kicking tires" so to speak. I really want to put in some decent unmolested wiring into this thing.


I suspect the painless harness is modeled after the Stang.

With the Mustang harness, the connectors at the body harness(near the W/S wiper motor)will be pinned differently. Also the fuel pump relay is and its connector are different and located in a different location(under the drivers seat, instead of in the trunk). The other connectors should be in the proper location.

FYI... the '86 Mustang is unique, TOTALLY different from the '87-up Stangs(and anything else), been there done that and have the Tshirt on that one.

Re: Engine Harness Question

Reply #8
I used an 89 mustang harness (including injector harness) all the way back to the computer to install a 5.0 into my '85 TC. Had to do a little cutting and splicing to interconnect to the instrument panel and the fuel pump, but other than that, it was straightforward, need a good schematic, though.

Re: Engine Harness Question

Reply #9
The 1989 Mustang harness is about the only "universal" one we can use. 1990-93 had the airbag, 1987-88 were speed density. So for mass air and no airbag, 1989 is the one to get. As eazrider said, it's not plug-and-play but it is very usable and easily converted once you line up the schematics.

Personally, I still think it's much easier (and less error-pr0ne) to find a good 1986-88 Cougar/T-Bird 5.0 harness and add the mass-air harness.

Re: Engine Harness Question

Reply #10
Much easier to find one for your year though.
One 88

Re: Engine Harness Question

Reply #11
Okay you all have me convinced. Time to find a good parts car. Thanks for your input everyone.