Page 1 of 2
Help starting a 302/EFI Engine for the first time
Posted: Fri Jan 03, 2020 3:27 pm
by Strike2
I believe I'm ready to start the new motor up for the first time and would like some help from a couple of "veteran motor/EFI guys".
I have the wiring 95% complete but would like to have someone double check my work before hooking up the battery.
I'm looking for some help next Sat 1/11 . The wife is out of town so I would really like to surprise her once she returns.
The garage is heated plus Food & Beverage will be provided I'm located up North in Frederick Co. (I-25 & HWY 52)
Let me know if anyone can help and I'll PM you my address/number
Thanks in Advance
Steve
Here's what I have
Freshly rebuilt 75-302 block 30over with 96 GT Heads & Mild cam
96 Explorer EFI wiring/computer re-flashed by Gary
Re: Help starting a 302/EFI Engine for the first time
Posted: Fri Jan 03, 2020 11:05 pm
by Eck
I could probably come by for a few hours one of those days- whichever ends up working out. IΓÇÖm no wiring expert but have the same EFI setup on my Bronco and have rebuilt a couple engines (err- 1 engine a couple times).
I can bring my Bronco with me to compare and double check off of.
-Mike
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Re: Help starting a 302/EFI Engine for the first time
Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2020 6:06 am
by Strike2
That would be great Mike!
Having a couple of explorer EFI Broncos here to compare wiring is what I was hoping for. IΓÇÖm running a flat tapped cam so once the engine fires up I just need to run it for 30min at 2K rpm so looking for a couple of people to help monitor items for leaks or issues. There will be no test run as the bronco is still not under its own weight.
PM sent
Re: Help starting a 302/EFI Engine for the first time
Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2020 6:38 pm
by Rox Crusher
I think I can come and play too.
Prefer Saturday, but either will work.
Been wanting to see your craftsmanship first hand.
Re: Help starting a 302/EFI Engine for the first time
Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2020 8:16 pm
by Strike2
Rox Crusher wrote:I think I can come and play too.
Prefer Saturday, but either will work.
Been wanting to see your craftsmanship first hand.
Perfect then letΓÇÖs say Saturday about 9ish I know some arenΓÇÖt morning people, but I am IΓÇÖll have breakfast burritos and drinks ready.
PM sent
Re: Help starting a 302/EFI Engine for the first time
Posted: Mon Jan 06, 2020 11:38 am
by Strike2
I got a few more items completed this weekend before "Engine Start Day 1-11" I was able to volt check that I have power to the gauges along with Key power in all three positions as well as power to new EFI fuse box. All that's left to do is wire up/test the fuel pump, add fluids/new plugs and prime the motor I may remove the starter and disconnect the coil wire to see that the starter cranks as its off the donor explorer.
I do have a couple of questions
1.) On the main 2 power leads going to the OEM fuse box should I hook up one large black wire to the Alt or directly to the battery and should this wire have some type of inline fuse? Also just cap the other one.
2.) Were are you sourcing the small 2amp fuse for the instrument panel. My local AutoZone/O'reilly's doesn't stock them.
Re: Help starting a 302/EFI Engine for the first time
Posted: Mon Jan 06, 2020 2:19 pm
by Kinder
For the main power IΓÇÖd go to the battery not the alternator, the battery is a reservoir and can take and give as needed, the alternator only gives. I believe I ran both original wires to hot as power has two ways in on the circuit, if your connections are similar to my ΓÇÿ73.
As for the fuse, have you tried NAPA?
Re: Help starting a 302/EFI Engine for the first time
Posted: Mon Jan 06, 2020 4:08 pm
by Strike2
Kinder wrote:For the main power IΓÇÖd go to the battery not the alternator, the battery is a reservoir and can take and give as needed, the alternator only gives. I believe I ran both original wires to hot as power has two ways in on the circuit, if your connections are similar to my ΓÇÿ73.
As for the fuse, have you tried NAPA?
Thanks Kinder
IΓÇÖll go directly to the battery,
I stopped at the Erie Napa and they werenΓÇÖt 100% sure on ordering the correct 2amp fuse due to the length, so IΓÇÖm going to bring the old one tomorrow and see what they say.
Re: Help starting a 302/EFI Engine for the first time
Posted: Mon Jan 06, 2020 5:13 pm
by Rox Crusher
Before we left for the Baja trip I went to Orielly's and ordered multiples of the odd OEM Bronco fuses.
I don't know off the top of my head if there are differences between 73 & 77 but I will dig through my on-board survival kit to see if I have any of those fuses.
Re: Help starting a 302/EFI Engine for the first time
Posted: Mon Jan 06, 2020 5:16 pm
by Eck
You just talking about a standard auto fuse- 2amp? If so- I ordered a large kit off amazon when I was prepping for Baja. I can bring a couple on Saturday for you if you canΓÇÖt find any local.
Re: Help starting a 302/EFI Engine for the first time
Posted: Mon Jan 06, 2020 5:20 pm
by Rox Crusher
Eck wrote:You just talking about a standard auto fuse- 2amp? If so- I ordered a large kit off amazon when I was prepping for Baja. I can bring a couple on Saturday for you if you canΓÇÖt find any local.
some of them are funny sizes (physical size)
Re: Help starting a 302/EFI Engine for the first time
Posted: Mon Jan 06, 2020 8:44 pm
by Strike2
Rox Crusher wrote:Eck wrote:You just talking about a standard auto fuse- 2amp? If so- I ordered a large kit off amazon when I was prepping for Baja. I can bring a couple on Saturday for you if you canΓÇÖt find any local.
some of them are funny sizes (physical size)
The one IΓÇÖm having trouble locating is the instrument 2amp fuse its 5/8 in length. I pulled all the fuses and going to head to the main Napa distribution hub tomorrow and see what they have.
Re: Help starting a 302/EFI Engine for the first time
Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2020 6:59 am
by TOOLMAN
I'm a maybe to come help. Need to check to see if the wife wants to go to the Stock Show this weekend.
Re: Help starting a 302/EFI Engine for the first time
Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2020 10:12 am
by Strike2
TOOLMAN wrote:I'm a maybe to come help. Need to check to see if the wife wants to go to the Stock Show this weekend.
That would be great!
PM sent
Re: Help starting a 302/EFI Engine for the first time
Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2020 10:28 am
by Strike2
It looks like the Napa hub has the 2amp fuse, going to stop in at lunch at see.
In the meanwhile what are the fuse sizes recommended when used in the EFIGuy wire harness junction box. I'm using a 96 explorer harness and looking at the OEM sizes they seem high and I cant seem find the O2 sensor.
The ones in there were used just to confirm power.
Re: Help starting a 302/EFI Engine for the first time
Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2020 6:30 pm
by Rox Crusher
I donΓÇÖt know if different years of Explorer have different fuse requirements but Garry just did this for mine.
I do know that the KAM and OBD fuse is 5 amp for the 96 which is located in the bottom of the relay box.
70764719-6442-404C-9DFB-0BD86A9475E2.jpeg
Re: Help starting a 302/EFI Engine for the first time
Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2020 8:38 am
by Strike2
[quote="Rox Crusher"]I donΓÇÖt know if different years of Explorer have different fuse requirements but Garry just did this for mine.
I do know that the KAM and OBD fuse is 5 amp for the 96 which is located in the bottom of the relay box.
Thanks for the information, I'll hit up AZ an pick up some 5 & 20 amp fuses.
I'm making good progress on the list, I was able to prime the motor and change spark plugs. Luckily I noticed that #1 wire didn't snap into the plug and there was no connector in the boot. Just order a Motorcraft set that will be in tomorrow.
Re: Help starting a 302/EFI Engine for the first time
Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2020 12:05 pm
by Rox Crusher
Looking at your list...…..
I have a brand new OBDLink MX Bluetooth reader for Android / Windows that you can have.
I also have one for IOS we can use if you're an apple guy.
Re: Help starting a 302/EFI Engine for the first time
Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2020 8:36 pm
by Strike2
Rox Crusher wrote:Looking at your list...…..
I have a brand new OBDLink MX Bluetooth reader for Android / Windows that you can have.
I also have one for IOS we can use if you're an apple guy.
Thanks but IΓÇÖm not sure I have any of that
All I have is a iPhone and defiantly not a apple guy. Heck I just just post from work and a 1gen I pad lol. A coworker said he has one I could borrow until I get so feed back from CCB on which reader is a decent buy.
Re: Help starting a 302/EFI Engine for the first time
Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2020 7:39 am
by Jesus_man
Strike2 wrote: A coworker said he has one I could borrow until I get so feed back from CCB on which reader is a decent buy.
Free is the best one...at least for now right??
Wish I was local as I would also love to see your rig in person! Make sure someone taking video!
Re: Help starting a 302/EFI Engine for the first time
Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2020 2:09 pm
by Strike2
Jesus_man wrote:Strike2 wrote: A coworker said he has one I could borrow until I get so feed back from CCB on which reader is a decent buy.
Free is the best one...at least for now right??
Absolutely I just don't know what Rox Crusher's lingo means LOL
I have the Go Pro charging and should have some video
Re: Help starting a 302/EFI Engine for the first time
Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2020 7:12 pm
by Rox Crusher
The OBD reader I am offering you for free is designed to work with android phones and windows based laptops. You plug it into the OBD port and it connects to the android phone or laptop via Bluetooth. You download the software which takes the info from the OBD reader and shows you end error codes from the pcm.
I mistakenly ordered this one. It realizing it didnΓÇÖt work with Apple devices so I have no need for it.
I then ordered one that works with apple devices because that is what I have. I will bring both so we can use whatever suits the situation.
Hope that clears it up.
Re: Help starting a 302/EFI Engine for the first time
Posted: Fri Jan 10, 2020 12:17 pm
by Strike2
I then ordered one that works with apple devices because that is what I have. I will bring both so we can use whatever suits the situation.
Hope that clears it up.[/quote]
Thanks Rox Crusher, makes sense now.
So after priming the motor and resetting the distributor I wanted to refresh my memory on converting the 96 Explorer wiring harness so I review both youtube videos by EFIGUY. One item caught my attention the CPS, I don't remember ever seeing that plug just the timing pointer. After confirming with an expert he confirmed yes you defiantly need a Crank Position Sensor

. So after 1+ hours of searching bags of parts I found the OEM CPS plug that Icut from the harness 18 months ago. (Pre-RedBull days) LOL
"Readers digest version" Last night I had to pull several motor parts/wire harness to re-attach the CPS I finished just after midnight but glad I found it when I did, today it shouldn't take long to put it all back together and be ready for SAT. I would have called out sick today but I had critical parts that were due to arrive at work today. Good news is they arrived and life is good!
Re: Help starting a 302/EFI Engine for the first time
Posted: Fri Jan 10, 2020 1:04 pm
by Jesus_man
Look at all that room to work!!
Re: Help starting a 302/EFI Engine for the first time
Posted: Fri Jan 10, 2020 11:51 pm
by EFI Guy
Just a heads up on the CPS wires...They need to be shielded in foil tape with a bare drain wire ran to ground (on the PCM side) inside the foil. If you just cut the plug off it's probably no big deal, but if you had to add both wires back in make sure the shielding is there.
Re: Help starting a 302/EFI Engine for the first time
Posted: Sat Jan 11, 2020 6:38 am
by Strike2
EFI Guy wrote:Just a heads up on the CPS wires...They need to be shielded in foil tape with a bare drain wire ran to ground (on the PCM side) inside the foil. If you just cut the plug off it's probably no big deal, but if you had to add both wires back in make sure the shielding is there.
Thanks for the info Garry !
It was about 10 pm Thursday night when I found the CPS wire and of course I cut it around the #5-6 injector wire. And found that it was shielded w/foil and a bare wire.
I thought that was unique and scoured through my ΓÇ£extraΓÇ¥ explorer wiring and found another stranded wire set with the foil/bare wire and used it, I figured Ford had a reason for this so I but it back to OEM
Thanks for clarifying what the bare wire and foil is for
Re: Help starting a 302/EFI Engine for the first time
Posted: Sat Jan 11, 2020 5:05 pm
by Rox Crusher
Sorry I had to leave
Did you get that bad boy runnin ?
Re: Help starting a 302/EFI Engine for the first time
Posted: Sun Jan 12, 2020 12:50 pm
by Eck
Rox Crusher wrote:Sorry I had to leave
Did you get that bad boy runnin ?
I will spill the beans-- yes, we got it running. There should be a video that might get posted by someone that was there so I won't steal anymore thunder.
Re: Help starting a 302/EFI Engine for the first time
Posted: Sun Jan 12, 2020 3:02 pm
by mickphatmac
Congratulations!!! CanΓÇÖt wait to see it off and running!!!
Re: Help starting a 302/EFI Engine for the first time
Posted: Sun Jan 12, 2020 4:00 pm
by Jesus_man
Wahoo! Ready to see it in it's intended enviroment!