No wonder I dread the ECU swap!

[blkfordsedan]

Karl, I noticed you didn't say anything about the injectors today, just the ECU and then a test drive. Were you running the B6 injectors on the B3 ECU temporarily?

[Safety Guy]

Yep. Just like when I did my B6/ATX swap on Lux a few years ago, I ran Aqua on the B3 computer for a couple weeks first. Just in case you missed it, here's my build thread:

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31934

I'll be updating it again soon with ECU swap pics and a link to this thread. Plus whatever else I may be doing in the next week. Interior work, probably. I'm going on a long trip soon so I need a bit quieter driving environment.

And a roof rack!

Karl

[blkfordsedan]

You should at least see a definite improvement in MPG. I'm looking forward to your update! I need to get back working on my B6 swap as well. I can't make up my mind if I want to pull the head off the B6, port it, install my FMS cam & lighten the flywheel, or just leave it all stock and concentrate on preparing for a B6T swap. I'm also toying with the idea of making an adapter plate to be able to mount a cheap eBay (Honda or Nissan) header to the B6. I'm trying to gather dimensional info to see how close they are. We used to make adapters to run big block Chevy headers on 460 Fords, so something should be possible. I figure if I do the work on the B6 now, I can always look for a beat up Fesy to drop it into as a DD and "run the tar out of it". Then I can save my good car for the B6T .

[skeeters_keeper]

I know I haven't been on as much as I used to be Karl, but I'm still way in the scene :p A real job and a girlfriend take up some of my spare time... but just a taste of what I'm working on on skeeter now that the weather is getting better: body work (replacing the entire rear 1/4 from the accident), some fresh paint, BP, G25 with phantom grip, MK3 coilovers, A-arms, stiffened chassis top and bottom in the front, rear as well maybe... all kindsa little things, trying to stay relatively cheep but my new job as a machinist is opening up my eyes to all kindsa things I'd like to do :p

Glad you got Aqua on the road! Will you be driving it to OSX? I'm not sure if I can make it yet or not, but I hope so.

[blitzbuggy]

You should at least see a definite improvement in MPG. I'm looking forward to your update! I need to get back working on my B6 swap as well. I can't make up my mind if I want to pull the head off the B6, port it, install my FMS cam & lighten the flywheel, or just leave it all stock and concentrate on preparing for a B6T swap. I'm also toying with the idea of making an adapter plate to be able to mount a cheap eBay (Honda or Nissan) header to the B6. I'm trying to gather dimensional info to see how close they are. We used to make adapters to run big block Chevy headers on 460 Fords, so something should be possible. I figure if I do the work on the B6 now, I can always look for a beat up Fesy to drop it into as a DD and "run the tar out of it". Then I can save my good car for the B6T .

i did every thing you did except i didnt port the head. and i am very happy with the results.

[blkfordsedan]

i did every thing you did except i didnt port the head. and i am very happy with the results.

Are you running the factory exhaust manifold? It's really not a bad design, the primary runners are reasonably longer than a traditional log type manifold. I may just forget about the port job & header for now & just slip the FMS cam in it, turn down the flywheel and get it back on the road. I hate to "break the seal" on a head gasket if it's not leaking. I can get a used B6 head to port, do a valve job, get it milled, fab my header adapter plate and then just swap heads at a later date. I could also find another complete J/Y B6 to do an econo-rebuild. That way I know the compression will be acceptable to support the cam & headwork. I know a B8 or BP swap is cheaper, easier, and more powerful, but I want to build the power, as opposed to just swapping it. If I can get between 90 and 100HP, I'll be happy.

[ejp2fast]

It is always a bit of a pain, but I've done it several times now, last time it took almost 10 minutes I know, can you believe it?

Then again, I am a scrawny little feller and I don't need to pull the seat out or anything. I usually put the bottom two bolts back in and say forget the rest...

nate, a quicky writeup at a minimum!

[DON SVO]

It's amazing how much dash access you can get by removing the mounting bolts on one side, and using a friend and a big pry bar to move it back a few inches momentarily.

Seriously.

[festyfreak39]

hmm i found the ecu swap to be quite easy? im also a 20 year old with long skinny arms. The petal assembely swap was harder for me from auto to 5 speed.

[Safety Guy]

Nate wrote:

"I know I haven't been on as much as I used to be Karl, but I'm still way in the scene A real job and a girlfriend take up some of my spare time... but just a taste of what I'm working on on skeeter now that the weather is getting better: body work (replacing the entire rear 1/4 from the accident), some fresh paint, BP, G25 with phantom grip, MK3 coilovers, A-arms, stiffened chassis top and bottom in the front, rear as well maybe... all kindsa little things, trying to stay relatively cheep but my new job as a machinist is opening up my eyes to all kindsa things I'd like to do

Glad you got Aqua on the road! Will you be driving it to OSX? I'm not sure if I can make it yet or not, but I hope so."

A "real" job! A girlfriend! Do you have your second doctorate yet? :p Okay, I don't believe I've been filled in on this "accident" yet (though there is a vague recall of something happening to Skeeter). Any link?

Sounds like enough for you to keep busy...for a week or two. A machinist job sounds great. You should indeed be getting all kinds of ideas from looking at huge blocks and sheets of metal and the milling machines and lathes just sitting around waiting for a chunk of titanium to hop onto the table for reshaping!

Aqua should be at Ohiostiva. With a roof rack I hope. Maybe a H.D. trailer hitch. Perchance a trailer!

Hope you can make it. Bring your girlfriend! She'll be impressed with all your little car cronies!

Karl

[Safety Guy]

Brian, that header adapter plate idea sounds interesting. I hope you succeed so you can spill the beans for the rest of us! If you haven't done an engine swap yet, the B6 will give you good practice for a B6T. Since I've driven mostly weak cars all my life, my 5 speed B6 swap was quite enough to begin with, though I seem to be getting used to it somewhat now. I didn't seem to experience the jump in power from the proper ECU that others have talked of, so that's somewhat disappointing. But maybe different cars react in slightly different ways?

I hope my mileage improves too!

DON, I did undo a couple of lower dash bolts to try to push that lowest metal frame member away for more room, but the hood latch handle was in the way and I didn't try moving it. So that didn't help, but I can see how moving the dash out a bit would.

One thing I'm thinking is that when I put the B6 computer in Lux, it was my first time. I remember having to reach WAYY up in the dash to get to it, and how I piled tires and a pad outside the open door to lie on to help contort my body to do so. But I don't recall how hard it was to get out! I think slight differences in wiring harnesses (possibly between auto and manual, but mainly just between individual cars) make it either easier or more difficult. This time the ECU was just bracketed by those two wire bundles and wedged tighter between them the more I pulled.

But it's over now. I am mentally scarred, but alive.

Karl

[DON SVO]

DON, I did undo a couple of lower dash bolts to try to push that lowest metal frame member away for more room, but the hood latch handle was in the way and I didn't try moving it. So that didn't help, but I can see how moving the dash out a bit would.

Karl

hood latch handle should be 2 10mm bolts IIRC.

When I worked for Lincoln/Mercury, I manhandled my fair share of dashes... namely the MK8s and Continentals. It's shocking how much give a dash really has with a 250lb tech leaning back on a prybar wedged detween the dash's frame rail and A-pillar!

[blitzbuggy]

Are you running the factory exhaust manifold? It's really not a bad design, the primary runners are reasonably longer than a traditional log type manifold. I may just forget about the port job & header for now & just slip the FMS cam in it, turn down the flywheel and get it back on the road. I hate to "break the seal" on a head gasket if it's not leaking. I can get a used B6 head to port, do a valve job, get it milled, fab my header adapter plate and then just swap heads at a later date. I could also find another complete J/Y B6 to do an econo-rebuild. That way I know the compression will be acceptable to support the cam & headwork. I know a B8 or BP swap is cheaper, easier, and more powerful, but I want to build the power, as opposed to just swapping it. If I can get between 90 and 100HP, I'll be happy.

I am running the factory b3 exhaust manifold, and exhaust set up, with a b3 ecm, my fly wheel is at 11.5 lbs and make for quick acceleration, and the cam make it sound pretty cool at idle, with a 2 inch exhaust system on it and an electric cut out its should sound cool.