Skip to main content
Topic: 1986 XR7 351 turbo swap.... (Read 55832 times) previous topic - next topic

1986 XR7 351 turbo swap....

Hello fellow fox nutz....

http://www.crystalcomputersupport.com/trav/xr7pic1.JPG
http://www.crystalcomputersupport.com/trav/xr7pic2.JPG
http://www.crystalcomputersupport.com/trav/xr7pic3.JPG
http://www.crystalcomputersupport.com/trav/xr7pic4.JPG
http://www.crystalcomputersupport.com/trav/xr7pic5.JPG
http://www.crystalcomputersupport.com/trav/xr7pic6.JPG

I bought this cougar in Georgia in Feb 2003.  This car specifically was to modify, drag race, and just have a fun rust free car in the summer(difficult to do in Michigan).  Its been a fun ride.  I have went through a couple of engines, trannies.  About year ago I decided I wanted to hit some 11's in the 1/4.  I started researching an upgraded head and cam for the 2.3T.  Not lots of good, inexpensive options.  Plus I need 450rwhp to move my 3450lb fat cat.  I just didnt want to deal with a 450hp 2.3T.  So I decided on 302 swap with turbo.  Well that lasted about 6 months....after I had already purchased an engine for the swap.  Because of the weight of my car, I would really load the turbo 302 down.  Basically the stock block would fail me at 450hp or slightly more.  Not really worth all the expense and work.  So the project moved on to the 351w.  The 351w swap above the 302 will cost addition $800.  But with young children.  I almost have more money then time.  So I want to do it once.

Im about 40% through a 351w turbo swap.  I already have removed the factory 2.3T and C4.  I have received my on3performance fox mustang 351 swap kit.  http://www.on3performance.com/mustang351.html  Not the best quality, but for $1500 shipped to my door....put me in coach....  :)

An early christmas gift to myself.  I got it last Thursday.  It was shipped to my office.  ;-) 

I already have a Stingers PiMP I got this summer( http://www.stinger-performance.com/universalparts.html ).  It look pretty dang neat. 
It looks like all that I have to modify in the wiring harness is 8 injectors vs 4.  I have a couple other 2.3 injector harness.  If anybody else has a better plan let me know.

Couple of things I need to make the car run.  Injectors, 3G alternator swap, Chucks motor mounts.  I will be using a 351w Spyder intake with EFI elbow.  It should just fit.  Im not a cowl hood kinda guy.  Things I will do after the car is running.  Upgrade my 7.5" rear end and suspension.  Bigger fuel pump.  My Walbro 255 is 9 years old.  Subframe connectors so I can continue to shut my doors.

I'm hoping to have the car up and running by May 1st.  We will see.

Travis
aka  86XR7auto

1986 XR7 351 turbo swap....

Reply #1
Good luck with the swap!  Your youtube video is one of the things that convinced me to finally do a 2.3T swap a few years ago.
1986 Mercury Cougar - 2.3T/T5 swap, TC brakes and suspension and rearend, 3" exhaust, 255 lph fuel pump, Stinger BOV, Gillis MBC @ 18 psi
2003 Chevy Suburban Z71 - Daily driver
2015 Chevy Volt - Wife's daily driver

1986 XR7 351 turbo swap....

Reply #2
Nice Cat!  Should be a runner with the upgrades you have planned out.
'88 'bird, 10.9:1 306 w/TFS top end, forged rods/pistons, T-5 swap & bunch of other stuff, 1-family owned, had it since ‘98, 5.0tbrd88 on Instagram and YouTube

1986 XR7 351 turbo swap....

Reply #3
Quote from: Loaded87IROC;376319
Good luck with the swap!  Your youtube video is one of the things that convinced me to finally do a 2.3T swap a few years ago.

Hard to believe that was in August 2007.  Back then I was still using the big VAM.  It was a one trick cat if you know what im referring too.  WOT was great...but nothing else was, It did make good power though.  In 2009 i upgraded to the 2.3T MAF conversion....didnt have much luck.  2010 I update to SVOJohn speeddensity code for 2.3T.  That was  good.  I also had Quarterhorse, BE software, and a LM1 wideband.

Spring 2011 my second child was born.  So I know I would be busy for the next 6 months.  So I decide to do the V8 turbo swap.

Travis

1986 XR7 351 turbo swap....

Reply #4
Im going to order these injectors tomorrow.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Siemens-Deka-80lb-EV1-High-Impedance-Fuel-Injector-8-/390213457802?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr&hash=item5ada88d78a

Does anybody have any personal experience with them?

Thanks,

Travis

1986 XR7 351 turbo swap....

Reply #5
Thot I'd make it easier to see the pics








1986 XR7 351 turbo swap....

Reply #7
this is a cool project are you going to keep the stock pistons or get some forged pistons to handle the boost?
Cougar on a diet to suck gas and haul ass!


Cain, Pony Express Racing

1986 XR7 351 turbo swap....

Reply #8
Quote from: 67jones71;377003
this is a cool project are you going to keep the stock pistons or get some forged pistons to handle the boost?

Well not quite sure on that.  The stock pistons are pretty good for boost.  If you know what you are doing and keep the revs down.  They seem to last well in to 600rwhp.  I wont be looking for that any ways.  My fuel system isnt getting the big upgrade this year.  Just the big 340 Aeromotive pump.  The really big fuel will have to wait until 2013.  So my plan was to get a van 351 from a local yard.  There are several.

Then a friend of a friend has a fresh rebuild 95 block 351 with 9.2 hyper pistons, cleanup E7 heads.  He ran the engine for 60 mins 2.5 years ago.  Then removed it from the ranger he had been playing with.  The engine has a performance products spyder style intake and the correct oil pan.  Just not sure on the rods and crank.

Im going to check that out next week or so.

Thanks,

Travis

1986 XR7 351 turbo swap....

Reply #9
Got the carputer all setup and ready to go. 

10"  touch screen  for backup I have a mini usb keyboard touch pad unit.  The size of a cell phone.

Travis

P.S.  also got the 80lb high-z injectors....nice

1986 XR7 351 turbo swap....

Reply #10
Quote from: turbotrav;377710
Got the carputer all setup and ready to go. 

10"  touch screen  for backup I have a mini usb keyboard touch pad unit.  The size of a cell phone.

Travis

P.S.  also got the 80lb high-z injectors....nice

Cool stuff. Where are you mounting the screen?

1986 XR7 351 turbo swap....

Reply #11
Not quite sure Jim....That's more of a April thought.  The touch screen does have an adapter for the seat bolt support deal.  Kinda like for a laptop.  I would like to set it up so I can do a quick release.  So idiots dont try to steal it.

On a side not.  I got a nib ford racing f303 cam for the 351.  Also got a super deal on the correct oil pan and uber arp head bolts.

The project right now is buying stuff.  Although I started to make the fuel injector harness. 

Question Jim is your MS firing batch fire?

Thanks,

Travis

1986 XR7 351 turbo swap....

Reply #12
Quote from: turbotrav;378268
The project right now is buying stuff.  Although I started to make the fuel injector harness. 

Question Jim is your MS firing batch fire?

Thanks,

Travis

Yep.
 I'd have to go to my notes to tell you which cylinders are tied together.

I want to start looking for parts for the 351 swap. Then when my headers rust out I can do the conversion.

1986 XR7 351 turbo swap....

Reply #13
Hey Jim

I would like to look at that wiring harness diagram if you can.  No big rush.    you can email me if you wish  turbotrav@hotmail.com

I have 2 different 2.3t injector harnesses.  The stock 87-88 which has tons of  I dont need.  I also have the original 86 2.3t harness which is 4 wire connector.  Of the 4 wires there is bank 1, bank 2, 5 vref, and temp gauge on the dash.....I goal is to use all the 2.3 harness.  Which would be ECT, TPS, ACT(which I have to wire), TFI, BAP, ???  The factory 86 2.3t harness only has 40 or so wires.... :)  Alot less wires than the 87-88.

Thanks,

Travis

1986 XR7 351 turbo swap....

Reply #14
Does your ecu plug right into a Ford harness?
I ran a new engine harness from MS into the bay and spliced Weatherpack connecters onto the Explorer's harness.