MAF Conversion

[matthew]

I'm wondering if it is feasable/possible to do a MAF conversion on a lopo motor that has had the HO mods except the ecm, cam and injectors. I would love to go MAF, but I don't really feel like doing the camswap. I have a Mark 7 HO ECM to use, but I don't think I can use it unless I do the camswap from what I've heard.

Opinions and information please.

[Blaze86Vic]

MAF is much more adaptive to engine mods. If you convert to MAF and run a MAF ECU you should be pretty happy with the result. My car is running a 92 cougar ECU.

[matthew]

That is the goal, but the question is, can I do it with the stock lopo ECM? and How?

[Blaze86Vic]

I would not think so. Even if it did work, it would run much better with an ECU that was programed for a 5.0L with MAF.

[88grandmarq]

the easiest and most effective way to convert to MAF is using Mustang parts (ECM, sensor, air tube and harness kit). This, of course, requires you convert the motor to HO in order for this to work.

you can NOT use a SD ECM (lopo or HO) for a MAF conversion, the SD ECM simply does not have anyway to process the signal from the MAF.

[mrltd]

MAF conversion on a lopo with just heads and intake? WASTE of time. A mark 7 ECM will not work anyway, because it is speed density. The only way you could feasibly do this is to find a MAF & ECU from a CA car that has the lopo and MAF. IIRC correctly that was a single year setup and only in CA. (Good luck finding that rare stuff)

Any other ECU will not work well. The MAF ECU's are programmed for HO motors, and will at the minimum require 19lb injectors. It will probably run worse with the MAF setup on your current engine combo.

Most of the quicker EFI panthers do not have MAF, they still run an SD setup and have perfect drivability. Even my current car, with GT-40 heads, aftermarket cam, Explorer intake, 65mm TB and EGR spacer run damn near perfect on a stock untouched MK7 ecu. The issues I currently have are due to a dead FPR. My old 14 second 87 had a 86 mustang ECU and ran perfectly.

[matthew]

Yeah, I understand it would be a waste of time for power, but I was actually looking at mpg. I thought if it could be done "cheap and dirty" it may improve the efficiency somewhat. Oh well, thanks for the info.

[mrltd]

it won't help efficiency anyway.

BTW, my 87 with, heads,cam,intake, gears, stall converter, and a few other things got 22-24 mpg. And didn't see much highway driving.

Things you can do to improve milage are:

1.reduce drag on motor. i.e., electric fan (remove engine driven one) free flowing exhaust, underdrive pullies. good free flowing intake setup (filter and manifold)

2. Rolling reisitance: check the tire pressure regularly. Make sure the alignment is good also.

3. Tune ups! Make sure everything is in good shape, make sure all your sensors are working properly. ECT, ACT, MAP have a dramatic effect on MPG.

[matthew]

I get 17 with all new tune up parts, fresh heads and valve job and that is mostly highway. I used to get 21.5. Mileage went to shit shortly BEFORE I did the semi-HO. My alignment is perfect, I had it checked with the brand new tires. My tires are all at 34lbs. and I have a very free flowing dual exhaust (headers + h-pipe). Speed density uses preset values in a matrix in the computers memory which are based on the specific parts that are stock on the car. MAF actually measures the air amount going in and meters the fuel off an actual value, not an assumed value based on engine speed and manifold vacuum like Speed Density. It would make a difference. I don't know how much exactly, but there must be a reason that EFI evolved to MAF from speed density.

I would love to check the sensors you write about but I don't know what they are exactly. My O2's are good I think, and I calibrated my TPS, I know what MAP is but wouldn't know how to tell if it was bad.

What are ECT and ACT? and where are they?

[mrltd]

ECT=Engine coolant temp. It's in the heater line on the front passenger side of the intake.

ACT=Air charge Temp. Drivers side in the intake manifold. It's towards the front under the EGR valve, on the lower half.

I'm sure there are pics around of the sensor locations. And Mustangs have the sensors in the same locations.

Another thing to check is the connectors for eash sensor. My 91 actually had a broken wire on the MAP connector. O2 sensors could also need replacing too. (though my 87 had 200K plus on them and it ran fine)
The fuel pump or filter could be going also. Ever check the fuel pressure while driving the car? There are so many different things to check.

[matthew]

I have a rail mount fuel pressure gauge and an adjustable fpr, brand new fuel filter. I'll check the act and the sensor connections, I know where those ones are now. Thanks

[gadget73]

The evolution to MAF is pretty much to measure actual airflow instead of assumed, as you said already. And I'm not 100% sure if SD evolved to MAF. Early EFI, the Bosch JetTronic, used a vane air flow sensor, which was essentially a primitive mechanical MAF type system. It was a flap that would move based on how hard the engine was pulling. This flap moved something like a TPS telling the computer how much air was being used, and the computer would adjust to compensate. That system existed in the early 70s, so its not really new tech at all.

[Lincolnmania]

MAF is much more adaptive to engine mods. If you convert to MAF and run a MAF ECU you should be pretty happy with the result. My car is running a 92 cougar ECU.

thanks mang! i always wondered that, i have a 92 cougar ecm i harvested a while back

[matthew]

would that ecm (92 t-bird/cougar) retain cruise?

[turbo2256A]

Try replacing the thermstat its cheep and has a lot to due with fuel economy