1987 5.0 into 88 v6 car Help

Topic: 1987 5.0 into 88 v6 car Help (Read 3233 times) previous topic - next topic

1987 5.0 into 88 v6 car Help

April 25, 2008, 10:58:24 AM

I am trying to put a 1987 thunderbird 5.0 into an originally 1988 v6 car. The computer/fuel injection harnesses are very different. There are only two common wires between the two cars. I'm assuming that between the different years different color wires are used for the same purposes. I can't locate the problem area in the electrical and vacuum trouble shooting manuals. The area of concern is where the fuel injection harness ties into the main harness going into the fusebox, near the master cylinder.
Anyone know where I can figure out what each individual wire does in each car? I'm hoping to just change the alternator harness and the fuel injection harness without changing the complete under the dash wiring. Is this possible? Anyone done this before? Please help!

John

1987 5.0 into 88 v6 car Help

Reply #1 – April 25, 2008, 12:39:26 PM

My 88 was originally a V6 car. I can help you out. First, I would try to find an 88 V8 engine harness from a Tbird or Cougar. Next, buy an 88 EVTM for your car, this will help you re-pin those connectors at the master cylinder, to make all the dash stuff work. I bought my EVTM on Ebay and I wouldn't have been able to do the work without it. I had to lengthen my alt harness to fit the V8 (alt sits on pass side in V8 cars).

1987 5.0 into 88 v6 car Help

Reply #2 – April 26, 2008, 10:23:32 AM

Quote from: jpc647;215679

I'm assuming that between the different years different color wires are used for the same purposes.

John

NOPE, plugs are different, but wire color should be the same(unless the harness has some substitution's, which is possible)... The wires were same color on the '87 5.0 harness I used in my '88TC... Even wires like temp sender, oil pressure sender, etc were the same color back in the '60s...

The '88 computer and under hood harness would be the way to go, as it will all just plug in... Not necessary to change dash harnesses...

1987 5.0 into 88 v6 car Help

Reply #3 – April 26, 2008, 11:29:12 PM

Will an 88 harness plug right into all of the other 87 components? Anyone know where I can get an 88 harness? There are none at any local junkyard in a 100 mile radius. I have called and visited everywhere.

1987 5.0 into 88 v6 car Help

Reply #4 – April 27, 2008, 01:32:06 AM

Quote from: jpc647;215921

Will an 88 harness plug right into all of the other 87 components?

Yup, sensors on engine same for '87 & '88...

No clue for a harness...

1987 5.0 into 88 v6 car Help

Reply #5 – April 27, 2008, 09:26:55 AM

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/4/web/2368000-2368999/2368039_23_full.jpg

Umm, I think you already have a harness sitting inside that white bird.

1987 5.0 into 88 v6 car Help

Reply #6 – April 27, 2008, 11:09:47 AM

Grannysbird,
I have a 1987 harness in the white bird. Member TurboCoupe50 recommended I use a 1988 v8 harness instead of the 1987. The 1987 harness has to be completely modified. But I guess it shouldn't be too hard. One member says one thing, the other says another. I know between the two cars the wires aren't all the same colors. Thanks for the info everyone!

John

1987 5.0 into 88 v6 car Help

Reply #7 – April 27, 2008, 03:13:38 PM

If the car receiving the 5.0 is an '88...use an '88 harness.
'87 will not plug into an '88 unless you change the dash harness as well.

And I second the '88 EVTM, you'll definitely need it.

1987 5.0 into 88 v6 car Help

Reply #8 – May 15, 2008, 09:36:07 AM

FordTruckFreek,
I have the EVTM. :) Will the 88 harness plug right into the engine. Like the fuel injection harness, are they identical for both years?

1987 5.0 into 88 v6 car Help

Reply #9 – May 16, 2008, 11:26:20 PM

yup, the engine ends are the same, it's just the dash connectors that are diff between 87 to 88 year cars.

1987 5.0 into 88 v6 car Help

Reply #10 – May 30, 2008, 08:32:11 PM

FordTruckFreek,
When you say the dash connectors that are different, you mean where it plugs in by the drivers corner wirewall, or the complete under dash harness?

1987 5.0 into 88 v6 car Help

Reply #11 – May 31, 2008, 01:33:59 AM

the connectors that mate the engine harness to the dash harness are different from 87 to 88. if you use an 87 tbird engine harness in an 88 car, you'll either need to A. swap dash harness as well, or B. pull the connectors and replace/repin to match.

Personally, i'd just try to find all the wiring from the same year, be it 87 OR 88, as mixing and matching is usually a headache, unless you're rather knowledgeable about wiring and have EVTM's for both years...

1987 5.0 into 88 v6 car Help

Reply #12 – May 31, 2008, 08:08:34 AM

Quote from: FordTruckFreeek;221396

the connectors that mate the engine harness to the dash harness are different from 87 to 88. if you use an 87 tbird engine harness in an 88 car, you'll either need to A. swap dash harness as well, or B. pull the connectors and replace/repin to match.

Personally, i'd just try to find all the wiring from the same year, be it 87 OR 88, as mixing and matching is usually a headache, unless you're rather knowledgeable about wiring and have EVTM's for both years...

Is that also true between a bird and cougar swap also?

1987 5.0 into 88 v6 car Help

Reply #13 – May 31, 2008, 09:05:33 AM

Quote from: daminc;221415

Is that also true between a bird and cougar swap also?

Birds and Cougs of same year should be interchangeable...

1987 5.0 into 88 v6 car Help

Reply #14 – May 31, 2008, 01:25:10 PM

Does anyone know where in the EVTM I can find these wires? I have one for 87 and 88 but can't seem to locate where it tells me what wires from do what. I know the colors are different.