• Welcome Visitor! Please take a few seconds and Register for our forum. Even if you don't want to post, you can still 'Like' and react to posts.

86 2.9 to 99 ranger 4.0 swap computer relocation


Efordman

New Member
Joined
Sep 6, 2017
Messages
33
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Transmission
Automatic
So I'm swapping a 4.0 from a 1999 ranger to my 86 B2. I'm trying to figure out where to mount the computer under the hood of the bronco. So it is mounted in a box on the firewall between center of the truck and the AC box and is only accessible from under the hood. I would like to mount it without cutting any of the harness wires for it. My original idea was to use the same mount on the bronco but there is no where near enough room... I have several ideas or waterproof containers but it seems like the case would need to be vented at least right?
 


fastpakr

Forum Staff Member
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Supporting Member
Article Contributor
U.S. Military - Veteran
V8 Engine Swap
TRS 20th Anniversary
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Aug 6, 2007
Messages
7,987
Reaction score
2,789
Points
113
Location
Roanoke, VA
Vehicle Year
1999
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Tire Size
285/75-16
So I'm swapping a 4.0 from a 1999 ranger to my 86 B2. I'm trying to figure out where to mount the computer under the hood of the bronco. So it is mounted in a box on the firewall between center of the truck and the AC box and is only accessible from under the hood. I would like to mount it without cutting any of the harness wires for it. My original idea was to use the same mount on the bronco but there is no where near enough room... I have several ideas or waterproof containers but it seems like the case would need to be vented at least right?
Is there any way to create a slot through the firewall on the B2 so you could mount it similarly to the '99?
 

Efordman

New Member
Joined
Sep 6, 2017
Messages
33
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Transmission
Automatic
There's not enough room for that. I mentioned it in the original post... I will have to mount it in a box of some kind
 

adsm08

Senior Master Grease Monkey
Supporting Member
Article Contributor
Ford Technician
TRS 20th Anniversary
Joined
Sep 20, 2009
Messages
34,623
Reaction score
3,613
Points
113
Location
Dillsburg PA
Vehicle Year
1987
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Tire Size
31X10.50X15
I think i would try to build a jumper harness that will plug into the factory harness and the computer to extend it to where ever you need to go.
 

fastpakr

Forum Staff Member
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Supporting Member
Article Contributor
U.S. Military - Veteran
V8 Engine Swap
TRS 20th Anniversary
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Aug 6, 2007
Messages
7,987
Reaction score
2,789
Points
113
Location
Roanoke, VA
Vehicle Year
1999
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Tire Size
285/75-16
There's not enough room for that. I mentioned it in the original post... I will have to mount it in a box of some kind
Sorry, I thought you meant that the '99 ECU wouldn't fit in the Bronco's original ECU position. That said, ADSM's solution of creating a jumper sounds like the best alternative.
 

Efordman

New Member
Joined
Sep 6, 2017
Messages
33
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Transmission
Automatic
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Stack-On-Portable-Case-with-Combination-Lock-PC-95C-Black/16637366

So i had one of these cases that I found at a dirt cheap store in Tuscaloosa where I used to live for like 5$. The combination dials were messed up and didn't work ...well the computer fit in it like a glove with some trimming on the end after removing the lock parts. Now I'm going to get a bracket welded to the case and mount it on the firewall near the HVAC box so it kinda hangs over the coil pack of the 4.0. basically it will be in the same location and orientation as the range except above the engine instead of in the firewall. To make an extension harness It would be over 100$ just for the male and female ends. that's​ out of my budget for this project.
 

fastpakr

Forum Staff Member
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Supporting Member
Article Contributor
U.S. Military - Veteran
V8 Engine Swap
TRS 20th Anniversary
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Aug 6, 2007
Messages
7,987
Reaction score
2,789
Points
113
Location
Roanoke, VA
Vehicle Year
1999
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Tire Size
285/75-16
Glad you found a good enclosure to work. After my previous post I started searching for ways to extend the harness and didn't come up with any good alternatives. The best cheap option I came up with was to buy a second ECU from any physically compatible vehicle and just use the bulkhead component to wire in an extension from the back side down to wherever you wanted to mount inside.
 

Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Staff online

Members online

Member & Vendor Upgrades

For a small yearly donation, you can support this forum and receive a 'Supporting Member' banner, or become a 'Supporting Vendor' and promote your products here. Click the banner to find out how.

Truck of The Month


Kirby N.
March Truck of The Month

Recently Featured

Want to see your truck here? Share your photos and details in the forum.

Follow TRS On Instagram

TRS Events

25th Anniversary Sponsors

Check Out The TRS Store


Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Sponsored Ad


Amazon Deals

Top