'96 LSC motor swap into a'95 base

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dosMarkos8to's

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I bought a '96 LSC with a good motor which I want to swap into my '95 base. I believe the 96 is obd2. What is required with electronics issues to get the 96 motor to work once installed....like can I hookup the 96 to my 95's wiring harness...what electronics can be transferred from the 95 to the 96 so its happy? Any issues with 02 sensor if I use the 96 LSC exhaust system.

When the donor '96 is on the ground I will probably have it rebuilt ( it has 128K)...any suggestions to add some power to the engine. I'd like to get it up to 320-350hp. I'm thinking a better cam grind w/different injectors, better coil pacs etc. nothing wild, just more efficient, not too expensive. I believe the 96 LSC trans is a better one than the 95 trans. Would it be worth using it (after rebuild) in the 95 or do the obd2 electronics disqualify that swap?

I have more in this car than it will ever be worth....but it was given to me by my Dad (since passed) ...he bought it in 95 when he was 77YO....always a Ford man...best Ford he ever owned...caught hell from Mom about it! I fell in love with it when he passed it on to me (they couldn't get in or out of it any more), and the emotional attachment is strong.
I want to use the car as a daily driver.

Any suggestions/guidance will be much appreciated.
Thanks.
 
Direct drop in. Just put your 95 IMRC's on the 96 engine. Also leave the engine alone. Maybe do some bolt ons, but if it ain't broke don't fix it. 96 trans is no better then 95. Again if trans shifts fine leave it alone. Maybe a Jmod.
 
Agreed, it really is not worth spending money on a rebuild if it isn't broken. Sometimes the rebuild parts will give you more of a hassle. IF the transmission and engine ever do give you problems you are better off replacing the units. Worry about rebuild/reinforcing if you are adding serious power. However if you feel comfortable while it is already out of the car I see no fault in that. There is no difference between the 95 and 96 transmissions either. If you want to rebuild a transmission please get a late 97 or 98+ 4R70W as it uses a solenoid for shifting mechanism. I wouldn't spend money on rebuilding a pre-97 transmission. Good luck.
 
I thought the 96 transmission got a much better valve body. Case is also better/different from the older ones (not hugely different or better, and other parts not close to 98+ or 01+).

Also this is external and easy to change, but the 96 got the filter with the tube and the pan with the dimple to cure starvation cornering and going over bumps and humps.
 
Bangster said:
I thought the 96 transmission got a much better valve body. Case is also better/different from the older ones (not hugely different or better, and other parts not close to 98+ or 01+).

Also this is external and easy to change, but the 96 got the filter with the tube and the pan with the dimple to cure starvation cornering and going over bumps and humps.
Click to expand...
Yeah always use the dimple trans pan.
 
yep, 96 got a better main control/valve body and the dimpled pan.
not a substantial upgrade, but definitely worth mentioning.
 
The trans in the'95 has been rebuilt w/jmod....so i'll swap pans w/the '96 trans and keep the '96 for a spare. Whether or not to rebuild the engine will I guess depend on cost. There is a machine shop nearby that does incredible work, (the owner bought out all of Smokey Yunick's machines when Smokey retired).
I had bad luck with the '95 engine breaking valve springs...the 3rd time it happened ended that engines career. I believe the '96 has beehives...if not I'll put in a set of Brian Tooley Racing valve springs to be sure that monkey never bites again.
I don't know the history of the '96 engine....it has 128K on the clock....looks like it didn't get the best of care. It sounds good, no blow by or smoke, quite running...will do a compression check then decide what to do to it.

ROM...are the IMRC's different between the 2 engines or does the 96 not have them, or is it a control issue?

Thanks for ALL the input!
Dos Markos
 
no, still vacuum controlled.
its just that the 96 IMRCs have electronic monitoring built into them, so the computer knows when they get stuck.

there is no plug for this in a 95, so they are not needed. you can use the unmonitored IMRC actuators.
you could also simply just not plug in the electric part, but they are probably worth more being resold, as they are a one year only part.
 
chris2523 said:
no, still vacuum controlled.
its just that the 96 IMRCs have electronic monitoring built into them, so the computer knows when they get stuck.

there is no plug for this in a 95, so they are not needed. you can use the unmonitored IMRC actuators.
you could also simply just not plug in the electric part, but they are probably worth more being resold, as they are a one year only part.
Click to expand...

Chris...can I remove the part (can you name it for me, so I know what I am looking for?). Would "unmonitored actuators" just go along for the ride if I used them without plugging them in without any ill effect?...or can the part you are referring to be removed for resale to someone who might need them with out any undue plugging as in vacuum leakage made by removing them....I have a '95 manual but these actuators are not there (as you said). I don't want to pull my '95 motor apart if I don't need to.

Thanks
 
alright. the part in question is the IMRC actuator. is it operated by vacuum pressure, and moves the IMRC (intake manifold runner control) plates.

IMG_2252.JPG

that is a 96 only actuator. notice the black hat on it, and the wiring. the wiring serves to monitor the position of the IMRCs. if they aren't where the computer wants them, check engine light.

IMG_0407.JPG

there is a 93-95 actuator. notice no hat and no wires. these are not monitored by the computer.

by actuators function exactly the same and can be interchanged. but, a 96 would get a check engine light. that can be turned off by a competent tuner as well.

they would be very easy to swap out with the engine out of the car.

i would suggest putting the 95 engines actuators on the new 96 engine before installation, and selling the 96 actuators to someone who could use them.
the 96s actuators can easily be used in the 95, but the monitors will go unused.

IMG_2252.JPG


IMG_0407.JPG
 
Yeah you can make some money and more help some 1996 guys keep there cars on the road from selling the IMRC's.
 
The IMRC plates are the same right? it's just the vacuum actuators that are different for clarification? I would just swap the vacuum actuators and leave the intake manifold alone.

The 1996 exhaust should be fine the back two O2 sensors will go unused
 
Whats are 96 IMRC's going for these days? And why would anybody want them if they could just grab some off a 93-95 and put them on? Unless it was for restoration and wanting the keep the car as original as possible
 
96 owners want them so they don't get a CEL for them missing or broken, or need to get a tune specifically just for that.
 
1996Mark said:
Whats are 96 IMRC's going for these days? And why would anybody want them if they could just grab some off a 93-95 and put them on? Unless it was for restoration and wanting the keep the car as original as possible
Click to expand...

We are talking about the electronic part of the 1996 IMRC's that's on 1996 cars only. 93-95 don't have that part. If these go they will get CEL light and not be able to get a sticker in alot of states.
 
I'll definitely pass mine on when the swap happens....for a reasonable price, and will have all the other left over stuff not required to get the '96 motor happy in the '95 home.
 
Right on the Mark said:
Yeah always use the dimple trans pan.
Click to expand...

When I drove over a large curb (crappy headlights at night), my trans slipped for like 3-4 seconds and it just revved like it was in nuetral. It had never done that before, and never did it again after either even when the trans oil got a little low once.

Since mine is a 94, I never knew about the dimpled pan - but I am willing to bet that was what happened to my car. I was making a very sharp turn just as I went over the damn curbs.. Im lucky I didnt break any of my weak front control arms and ball joints that time...
 
Right on the Mark said:
We are talking about the electronic part of the 1996 IMRC's that's on 1996 cars only. 93-95 don't have that part. If these go they will get CEL light and not be able to get a sticker in alot of states.
Click to expand...

Living in a non emissions state, I always forget about a CEL keeping you from passing emissions
 
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