What is the latest and greatest EFI

[1969]

The current waitlist for a harness is about 90 days. I expect that to go down significantly over the winter.

Have you thought about offering a brand new standalone harness?

 

[904Bronco]

what is the EVAP ?

The Evaporative Emission Control System (EVAP) is used to prevent gasoline vapors from escaping into the atmosphere from the fuel tank and fuel system at all times. EVAP systems have been required on gasoline powered vehicles since the 1970s.

 

[RODRIG3911]

I like my Holley Sniper. I saw that they came out with s Sniper 2 that fixes a few issues that some people had. It's a pretty easy install and works good once you get it dialed in

 

[73azbronco]

I guess my 2 explorer purchase is not a total loss .

I can use the rearends for projects...or sell them.

I can use the engines, serpentine system.

I can sell the AOD's......

I am sure that other things can be sold.......

Maybe I will get into a more affordable hobby of aircooled porsches or older BMW's. Those probably aren't frustrating

Most expensive rebuild, a cheap BMW I bought..

 

[73azbronco]

My policy change isn't anything new, it's been this way for several years now. In the golden age of hot-rodding, race parts were simply sold "for offroad use only".
Well, the .gov has decided that there is no offroad exemption, so any production vehicle or engine that had emissions equipment from the factory must retain it forever.
This .gov policy was snuck into Congress and buried under medium-duty truck mpg standards and they signed off on it. If you go to buy speed parts from your favorite vendor you will notice that where it used to say "for Offroad use only" it now says "for 1966 vehicles only".
I believe the reason for going back that early is to protect themselves from CARB as well. The RPM ACT was written up to protect the automotive aftermarket from this overreach. Sadly, I'm told it has been kicked back out of committee. I encourage you all to write your congresscritters to get it passed.

If you stop and think about what this means, most drag cars are illegal if they were built from a production vehicle. The same goes for most circle track cars, dirt racers, etc...
If you want to partake in any sort of motorsports, you better have the money for a tube frame and Dart block, or build something early enough that it is exempt unless you keep it stock with all emissions components intact.

In theory, if you bought an Explorer engine and put a carburetor, Mustang EFI, or throttle body EFI setup on it, it's now illegal too! If you swapped from a 2bbl to a 4bbl and the manifold doesn't have the government's blessing, that's illegal too.
Now I heard a rumor that because Holley has deep enough pockets that they have their own lab and the EPA allows them to "self-certify". I can see that being ok for using Sniper as a carb replacement, but I don't see how it would be ok for something that requires OBD2 monitoring.
So I'm not sure if that is true or what sort of blanket certification is allowed to them.

Now I haven't heard of them going after any vehicle owners, but you should still know what is legal and what isn't and get that info from an actual lawyer and not some dumb retired auto mechanic like me.
It seems that their biggest targets are tuners (despite the fact that every tuner's goal is to make the engine run as efficiently as possible). They have also gone after people selling MIL eliminators and exhaust companies that sell cat-less exhausts.

We are in a weird position because we typically want modern engines in older "exempt" cars. It's a grey area for sure. There are still companies out there that will sell an LS harness and deleted ECM for your early vehicle. That just sounds too risky to me being that the LS should retain that stuff forever.
So my policy is to limit tuning to PATS deletes and gear and tire corrections if the vehicle or engine had any sort of smog equipment. While fining me would be like getting blood from a turnip since my lifestyle change has me living happily below the poverty level, I think I'm still too pretty for prison and the risk isn't worth it.

Now I'm not sure where everyone gets the idea that I'm the only guy that can tune an Explorer PCM. That may have been true for the first two years, but there are several name-brand companies that can tune them now. I'm just obviously the most experienced with this system. You can typically do a PATS delete and tire corrections with just a handheld tuner, but it's going to cost double what I charge.
You can tune them yourself or with my "consulting" if you like. I no longer remote in and tune everything for you, but I can offer templates that you import into your tune to get you dialed in. I just don't touch the actual tune file or write it to the computer, and it's on you to seek the government's blessing when it's done. While that method gets expensive, it's cheap compared to the cost of an aftermarket ECU.
Deletes have now been pushed offshore. There are companies now that are located in places like the Bahamas that sell deleted tunes to diesel truck users, so all going after the tuners has really done is directed more money out of the U.S. I haven't heard of them offering it for gas vehicles, but give it enough time and I'm sure it will happen.

The EGR and CATS really are not that hard to adapt in. I Like to run CATS in everything, even my race car just because it reduces stink. The tricky one to make work is the EVAP system. I am planning to release a product that will make that easier to use with our Bronco tanks, but I just have too much going on to finish the CAD side of things right now.
There are Explorer-swapped Broncos out there running 100% legal in some difficult states like CA and CO. The difficult part about it isn't making them legal, it's the different answers you get from the bureaucrats.
While I don't recommend not hooking up the check engine light (that would be illegal) There are people who have done so while waiting on my EVAP product that report no ill effects to the way the vehicle runs and drives.

To address the other "single point of failure" issue. The Explorer system is OBD2. OBD2 is still the standard that ALL mechanics use today. As a mechanic when someone would come in with an aftermarket EFI system my boss would tell them to look for a speed shop that works on that system. OBD1 Fords were often referred to our shop because I was "the guy" in the area who knew that system and had the breakout box and tools to work on it properly.
Mechanics don't like to learn new things on rare systems that they will never touch again. The time spent learning is time not making money and it isn't likely you will see a bunch of cars with that aftermarket system. Whereas OBD2 is the standard that everyone knows. So if I'm not around in the future to remote in and look at stuff with Forscan, any shop should be able to help.
The computers have a very low failure rate. I can think of 2 that failed for no apparent reason, and 2 that were obviously shorted out, this is out of countless computers. They are far more reliable than the Mustang computers and I expect them to last far beyond most of the aftermarket computers. They are still plentiful in junkyards so grab an extra if it's a concern. I offer a discount on the second flash.

So, I may be biased, but I still think the Explorer system is the best bank for the buck, especially if you want 4r70w control. The current waitlist for a harness is about 90 days. I expect that to go down significantly over the winter.

Hi, is there a plug and play replacement A9L like computer, all new?

 

[bigmuddy]

, I may be biased, but I still think the Explorer system is the best bank for the buck, especially if you want 4r70w control. The current waitlist for a harness is about 90 days. I expect that to go down significantly over the winter.

great to know , thanks for the response. Makes me feel better knowing I have stockpiled 2 explorers for future projects.

what is the EVAP ?

I have 2 Explorer ECMs sitting on my parts pile and I don't even have an explorer harness
Really should have kept those from years ago...

 

[duffymahoney]

I think my next setup will be a proflow style intake/ throttle body. Maybe running an Emtron Ecu. I should probably just buy the proflow and be done with it

 

[lars]

Hi, is there a plug and play replacement A9L like computer, all new?

There are a few, but all require tuning. Megasquirt PimpX and Pro-M come to mind. The latter is the only system I know of that uses a mass air meter, but you have to deal with the owner of the company to get help, and I understand he can be surly.

 

[DirtDonk]

Hi, is there a plug and play replacement A9L like computer, all new?

Good question. Haven’t heard of any, but they might be out there.
Are you thinking stock components, stock tune, and all that?

One that I can think of that aftermarket is the Pimp X from Stinger Performance. It’s an aftermarket computer inside of Ford case with Ford connector.
So it connects right to a stock harness, but is pre-tuned to a certain level to your specifications. And if you get the software you can, even tune it yourself after the fact.

Sounds like a great product, but at least one member here has tried it and found the bass tune not that great for their application.

 

[DirtDonk]

There are a few, but all require tuning. Megasquirt PimpX and Pro-M come to mind. The latter is the only system I know of that uses a mass air meter…

Isn’t the pimp X capable of running both speed density and mass air?

 

[lars]

Isn’t the pimp X capable of running both speed density and mass air?

I won't say unequivocally that it can't run mass air, but when I looked into it (Megasquirt website) I couldn't find any reference that it could.

 

[DirtDonk]

I got my info from the stinger website, but that’s just from memory from a couple of years ago.
So I could be totally wrong.

 

[nvrstuk]

It just fits so nicely! There was rumors FORD would buy chevy, if that would have happened, maybe it would be an acceptable swap? Lol

Ford is continuing to have HUGE financial problems. Owes BILLIONs of dollars on top of a 9.2 BILLION dollar loan. Everybody makes fun of "government motors" who 100% paid off their loan but Ford is hurting big time and has for years.

Don't think Ford is buying anybody.

 

[nvrstuk]

It has a separate ECU that is not integrated with the throttle body. IMO the issue with sniper and Fitech is their electronics become very sensitive due to heat. In a ford engine the dizzy is too close as well causing RFI interference. Should be more dependable.

New Sniper2 the ECU is separate. Holley finally caught on...

 

[rexorcist]

subscribed..went through fitech and now sniper1..after replacing several sensors the unit is back at Holley for a over a month now..grhhh

 

[chuck1022]

subscribed..went through fitech and now sniper1..after replacing several sensors the unit is back at Holley for a over a month now..grhhh

That is kinda my fear. I look at the Ford Explorer swap, and they have a huge track history, hundreds of millions of miles logged, Ford spent billions researching and developing it...and it just works. I guessing Holley/edelbrock/Fitech don't have the R&D budget

 

[chuck1022]

That is kinda my fear. I look at the Ford Explorer swap, and they have a huge track history, hundreds of millions of miles logged, Ford spent billions researching and developing it...and it just works. I guessing Holley/edelbrock/Fitech don't have the R&D budg

That is kinda my fear. I look at the Ford Explorer swap, and they have a huge track history, hundreds of millions of miles logged, Ford spent billions researching and developing it...and it just works. I guessing Holley/edelbrock/Fitech don't have the R&D budget

And then I can get on rockauto or got to Napa and get the sensor or injector..

I doubt you can get pro flo 4 injectors at Napa......

 

[EFI Guy]

Have you thought about offering a brand new standalone harness?

Of course. I would love to be able to offer a brand-new harness. The biggest issue is parts availability. Ford services all connectors in pigtail form with all black wires. Nothing makes me twitch like a harness hacked together with pigtails. It’s also important to me that it matches factory wiring colors.



I prefer to deal with blank plastic shells and virgin pins to crimp onto the wires avoiding all unnecessary splices. It’s extremely difficult to determine the part numbers for virgin pins and not all pin styles or shells are available. I’ve got hundreds if not thousands of hours into researching connector components and I have a pretty massive selection on hand by buying out remaining stock. I might be able to build a handful of new harnesses with them, but I feel it makes much more sense to use them to repair harnesses that need repairs instead.



Most of the time if a wire is broken it’s right at the connector, so cutting it a 1/4” shorter and crimping an OE pin onto it makes for a much more desirable repair than splicing on a service pigtail. It isn’t too often that I find a broken wire so hopefully my stock will last me my remaining years.



What is often broken are the plastic shells. They can be disassembled and replaced without splicing. I keep quite a few on hand but there are some that I have never found a new source for (96-98 injector plugs) outside of the overpriced service pigtails. So I tell everyone to check over their harness for broken connectors then make a run through the junkyard and cut off what they need from other Ford models. Toss em in the box and I replace them free of charge. 99-01 harnesses always have broken injector connectors, I stock a much better designed connector for those and charge $40 for the set of 8.



In my videos, I show you how to relocate the O2 sensor plug and OBD port by splicing. Since I have a couple thousand of those pins on hand I use the virgin pins instead of splices for harnesses that I build. For a long time I was using dk/grn with yellow striped wire for the fuel pump leads, it was a perfect match to the factory color and met the same SAE standard. I can no longer get that wire from my supplier and I’m looking for a suitable replacement so that I don’t have to use a generic green wire. The search hasn’t been easy, I can’t imagine if I tried to locate every factory color combo.

 

[ba123]

They aren’t quick, but Ron Francis offers wiring with all the connectors. You can tell them what engine you have and a Bronco and they do it or you can get their Telorvek panel that I got which is a huge panel, but each connector comes with a 25’ or something spool of wire and you can run it however you want.

I’m doing my engine related wiring right now.

 

[EFI Guy]

Hi, is there a plug and play replacement A9L like computer, all new?

As mentioned, the PimpX from Stinger. But AFAIK it is speed density only. I have been considering making my own circuit boards for Mega Squirt on my little cnc router as a replacement for the Explorer PCM since it would be fully tunable, but it looks like it would be pretty expensive by the time 4r70w control was added in.