converting to mass air

86pony · 09-08-2001, 02:22 PM

I am considering converting my 86 5.0 to a mass air setup. Would the ford unit or an aftermarket setup work best.
Also, can anyone recommend an intake manifold that is better than the stock factory unit. I have heard of some guys using a modified explorer manifold, but i have no idea as to what year of explorer the manifold came from.
Any help would be much appreciated.

myred86gt · 09-10-2001, 01:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 86pony:
I am considering converting my 86 5.0 to a mass air setup. Would the ford unit or an aftermarket setup work best.
Also, can anyone recommend an intake manifold that is better than the stock factory unit. I have heard of some guys using a modified explorer manifold, but i have no idea as to what year of explorer the manifold came from.
Any help would be much appreciated.

Even though massair is more adaptive to mods,
you can't beat the throttle response of speed
density 5.0s. To cope with my mods, I prefer
to alter fuel pressure and reprogram the ECU.
Go with the cobra mass air kit with the 24#
injectors and get the harness and bracket
that's not in the kit from a junkyard or other specialty suppliers in 5.0 magazine!
Stock meters are to restrictive.
The cobra manifold is the best bang for the
buck. It's got great lowend and sufficient
topend for cam swaps!

Unit 5302 · 09-10-2001, 06:04 PM

I would have to disagree with getting the Cobra kit. The computer with that kit is terrible, and the 24lb injectors are too much for your combo, by a long ways.

exgmguy · 09-10-2001, 06:21 PM

The 70mm Cobra mass air sensor be design is also quite restrictive for it's size.

I bought a mass air sensor pigtail(plug) from a Ford dealer. Got an aftermarket sensor and free used mass air intake bellows from a friend who went with the chrome cold air thingy-dingy. Then I bought a used mass air computer for like 50 bucks. Now all you have to do is add and remove a few wires in the main wiring harness and Viola' MASS AIR! CHEAP!

If you wanted to do it that way email me or post when you want to do it and i'll type you complete instructions.

------------------
1988 Mustang GT
11.8 @ 123 (7/14/01)
11.6 @ 116 with a melted plug! (9/8/01)
1992 BadAzz Wrangler
1993 Explorer

See my car at: www.mustangworks.com/cgi-bin/moi-display.cgi?179

Capri306 · 09-10-2001, 09:11 PM

Before I move this to the Windsor Power Forum...

FWIW, I converted my '87 to mass air with used/boneyard parts, and I can't tell you how much better it is now in every way. Well, mebbe I can. I ran a half-second FASTER this year since the conversion! That's the only mod I did since last fall that'd make any difference. Going from 14.7 to 14.3 (with an AOD & completely stock motor) was nice.

Now my mission (with some minor bolt-ons) is to break that damn 14-sec barrier. Wish me luck!!!

I'm not trying to discourage you, but I'd seriously look for another engine, preferrably an '87-'91. '92+ have cast (okay, hypereutectic) pistons, which suck. The '86s are infamous in the 5.0 community for offering basically nothing in performance, reasons too numerous to list.

As for an intake, the best bang-for-the-buck is still the Cobra. IMHO, fiddling with an Exploder intake is too much trouble (I know some will disagree, but there it is: my opinion

).

Mass air meters are pretty easy, you just have to make sure that it's calibrated/matched to the injectors. Apparently C&L is the one to beat, plus it uses your stock MAF element. MM&FF did a test on that and a Pro-Flo, and the C&L beat it across the board. 75mm should be considered a minimum for any performance application.

You need these mods to compliment each other though, and I think you're throwing money at a longblock that really needs some help, particularly the heads & pistons.

------------------
Capri306, Moderator, The Mustang Works Online
1979 Mercury Capri, 5.0L -- C4 -- 2.73
1987 Mustang LX Notch

macx · 09-10-2001, 10:12 PM

Whatever you decide to do, here's some sites that give good mass air swap info. Look in the "water box archives" at alternativeauto.com, and the tech, powertrain section at corral.net, and at www.designpointe.com/LSC, both the mass air swap article and the ""30lb injector & chip" article. for harnesses, check www.ronmorrisperformance.com, the painless wiring website, & www.windsor-fox.com. I've also heard that the ford-sold cobra conversion is not as satisfactory.
Yes, the Explorer intake is good - about the same as the Cobra intake (just make sure to get the earlier one with the EGR passages). While you're at it, the Explorer P (as in GT-40P) heads are also a great, inexpensive upgrade. Look in mags like Must & Fast fords for ads from i.e. Central Coast Mustang who sells various packages (intake & bare or assembled heads, or look in //motorcitymustang.corral.net for a super article on P heads (you have to click on i.e. the link to the 84 car on the home page, then scroll down that to the bottom and click on the P link)for a good source in MI.

09-08-2001, 02:22 PM	#1
86pony Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Sidney, BC, Canada Posts: 16	converting to mass air I am considering converting my 86 5.0 to a mass air setup. Would the ford unit or an aftermarket setup work best. Also, can anyone recommend an intake manifold that is better than the stock factory unit. I have heard of some guys using a modified explorer manifold, but i have no idea as to what year of explorer the manifold came from. Any help would be much appreciated.

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09-10-2001, 06:04 PM	#3
Unit 5302 Registered Member Join Date: May 1999 Posts: 5,246	I would have to disagree with getting the Cobra kit. The computer with that kit is terrible, and the 24lb injectors are too much for your combo, by a long ways.

09-10-2001, 06:21 PM	#4
exgmguy Registered Member Join Date: Feb 1999 Location: Utica, Michigan Posts: 2,631	The 70mm Cobra mass air sensor be design is also quite restrictive for it's size. I bought a mass air sensor pigtail(plug) from a Ford dealer. Got an aftermarket sensor and free used mass air intake bellows from a friend who went with the chrome cold air thingy-dingy. Then I bought a used mass air computer for like 50 bucks. Now all you have to do is add and remove a few wires in the main wiring harness and Viola' MASS AIR! CHEAP! If you wanted to do it that way email me or post when you want to do it and i'll type you complete instructions. ------------------ 1988 Mustang GT 11.8 @ 123 (7/14/01) 11.6 @ 116 with a melted plug! (9/8/01) 1992 BadAzz Wrangler 1993 Explorer See my car at: www.mustangworks.com/cgi-bin/moi-display.cgi?179

09-10-2001, 09:11 PM	#5
Capri306 Moderator Join Date: Sep 1998 Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA Posts: 1,001	Before I move this to the Windsor Power Forum... FWIW, I converted my '87 to mass air with used/boneyard parts, and I can't tell you how much better it is now in every way. Well, mebbe I can. I ran a half-second FASTER this year since the conversion! That's the only mod I did since last fall that'd make any difference. Going from 14.7 to 14.3 (with an AOD & completely stock motor) was nice. Now my mission (with some minor bolt-ons) is to break that damn 14-sec barrier. Wish me luck!!! I'm not trying to discourage you, but I'd seriously look for another engine, preferrably an '87-'91. '92+ have cast (okay, hypereutectic) pistons, which suck. The '86s are infamous in the 5.0 community for offering basically nothing in performance, reasons too numerous to list. As for an intake, the best bang-for-the-buck is still the Cobra. IMHO, fiddling with an Exploder intake is too much trouble (I know some will disagree, but there it is: my opinion ). Mass air meters are pretty easy, you just have to make sure that it's calibrated/matched to the injectors. Apparently C&L is the one to beat, plus it uses your stock MAF element. MM&FF did a test on that and a Pro-Flo, and the C&L beat it across the board. 75mm should be considered a minimum for any performance application. You need these mods to compliment each other though, and I think you're throwing money at a longblock that really needs some help, particularly the heads & pistons. ------------------ Capri306, Moderator, The Mustang Works Online 1979 Mercury Capri, 5.0L -- C4 -- 2.73 1987 Mustang LX Notch

09-10-2001, 10:12 PM	#6
macx Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Gordonville MO USA Posts: 448	Whatever you decide to do, here's some sites that give good mass air swap info. Look in the "water box archives" at alternativeauto.com, and the tech, powertrain section at corral.net, and at www.designpointe.com/LSC, both the mass air swap article and the ""30lb injector & chip" article. for harnesses, check www.ronmorrisperformance.com, the painless wiring website, & www.windsor-fox.com. I've also heard that the ford-sold cobra conversion is not as satisfactory. Yes, the Explorer intake is good - about the same as the Cobra intake (just make sure to get the earlier one with the EGR passages). While you're at it, the Explorer P (as in GT-40P) heads are also a great, inexpensive upgrade. Look in mags like Must & Fast fords for ads from i.e. Central Coast Mustang who sells various packages (intake & bare or assembled heads, or look in //motorcitymustang.corral.net for a super article on P heads (you have to click on i.e. the link to the 84 car on the home page, then scroll down that to the bottom and click on the P link)for a good source in MI.