[Killrainbow]

I have an 89 e350 box truck with a freshly rebuilt engine (460 efi), everything parts wise is brand new, including the wiring harness connectors. Mostly used motorcraft parts and other good brands, I have a persistent issue with the engine running the headers red hot after driving for a few minutes. Timing has been checked and set multiple times, fuel pressure is good, brand new cat and no muffler atm. The only two old parts left are the o2 sensor and the ecu. This truck has given me non stop running issues and 0 check engine codes have come up, light works. I did find a very corroded ground strap on the ecu from the heater box leaking, so possible the ecu is jacked up. I am at a loss other than replacing the ecu and o2 sensor. Both headers glow and it seems to run good fine some days then go back to red hot. I've searched the forums and cant find any solutions that I haven't tried so any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[The Mad Porter]

When setting the initial timing to 10 to 14* btdc with the SPOUT disconnected does the timing jump up to 20+ when the spout is reconnected?

Check fuel pressure as well both at idle and no vac.











Scotty J. "AKA" The "Mad Porter"
"EMC 2006" 3rd place finisher
Ported BBF iron head specialist & Aluminum heads from all sources.
Custom ground cams
See our products in the Vendor for sale section
Customized crate engines
ParklandAutoMachine.com
R-H-P.biz
"Parkland Performance Auto Machine" Formerly RHP
(253)-988-6648
Parkland Auto Machine

 

[Killrainbow]

When setting the initial timing to 10 to 14* btdc with the SPOUT disconnected does the timing jump up to 20+ when the spout is reconnected?

Check fuel pressure as well both at idle and no vac.











Scotty J. "AKA" The "Mad Porter"
"EMC 2006" 3rd place finisher
Ported BBF iron head specialist & Aluminum heads from all sources.
Custom ground cams
See our products in the Vendor for sale section
Customized crate engines
ParklandAutoMachine.com
R-H-P.biz
"Parkland Performance Auto Machine" Formerly RHP
(253)-988-6648
Parkland Auto Machine

I'll recheck both with your advice and get back with the specs.

 

[Werecow]

Check and see if your muffler is stopped up or you've got something else that's got your exhaust stopped up. Have you tried to gut your converter by chance? If so all that causes is the converter to start chunking out and stop up the muffler. After running awhile the exhaust gets hot enough to cause the back pressure that's causing your headers to glow. After running for a lil bit I'm guessing it runs like a dog too eh?

 

[hbboss1]

also if you improved the engine performace much,make sure your fuel pump is fresh,and good enough to support the engines power.

 

[FoMoCo]

My first thought was retarded timing.............

 

[Killrainbow]

I have a clear exhaust with a new heavy duty cat- no air system and the muffler is off. I have not tried a new pump or O2 sensor, Ill get the fp specs and timing today

 

[Killrainbow]

When setting the initial timing to 10 to 14* btdc with the SPOUT disconnected does the timing jump up to 20+ when the spout is reconnected?

Check fuel pressure as well both at idle and no vac.











Scotty J. "AKA" The "Mad Porter"
"EMC 2006" 3rd place finisher
Ported BBF iron head specialist & Aluminum heads from all sources.
Custom ground cams
See our products in the Vendor for sale section
Customized crate engines
ParklandAutoMachine.com
R-H-P.biz
"Parkland Performance Auto Machine" Formerly RHP
(253)-988-6648
Parkland Auto Machine

So I ended up finding a lot of trash inside of the fuel system, replaced both pumps with a new filter and blew out all the lines, runs better now but I still have not driven it yet. When I check the timing and set it to 12° as per the sticker with the spout reconnected, it stays exactly the same in neutral at idle at temperature. I may drive it to check if the issue is solved but I don't believe it is.
I have a new motorcraft icm but didn't put anything on the back of it, it has less than 5 hours on it so maybe heat faliure but I doubt it, new Pigtail as well. Spout looks rough but does have continuity through the plug in. I have not checked wires on it yet.

 

[The Mad Porter]

So I ended up finding a lot of trash inside of the fuel system, replaced both pumps with a new filter and blew out all the lines, runs better now but I still have not driven it yet. When I check the timing and set it to 12° as per the sticker with the spout reconnected, it stays exactly the same in neutral at idle at temperature. I may drive it to check if the issue is solved but I don't believe it is.
I have a new motorcraft icm but didn't put anything on the back of it, it has less than 5 hours on it so maybe heat faliure but I doubt it, new Pigtail as well. Spout looks rough but does have continuity through the plug in. I have not checked wires on it yet.

As soon as you plug the spout connector back in near the TFI module timing should IMMEDIATELY jump to 20 btdc. If it does not you have a problem to address with the spout circuit or the ECM in the passenger kick panel. The TFI / ICM does NOT control timing advance.

The ECM takes the PIP signal from the dizzy and processes it then applies modifiers to the look up timing table and sends a spout signal to the module to initiate spark.






Scotty J. "AKA" The "Mad Porter"
"EMC 2006" 3rd place finisher
Ported BBF iron head specialist & Aluminum heads from all sources.
Custom ground cams
See our products in the Vendor for sale section
Customized crate engines
ParklandAutoMachine.com
R-H-P.biz
"Parkland Performance Auto Machine" Formerly RHP
(253)-988-6648
Parkland Auto Machine

 

[Killrainbow]

As soon as you plug the spout connector back in near the TFI module timing should IMMEDIATELY jump to 20 btdc. If it does not you have a problem to address with the spout circuit or the ECM in the passenger kick panel. The TFI / ICM does NOT control timing advance.

The ECM takes the PIP signal from the dizzy and processes it then applies modifiers to the look up timing table and sends a spout signal to the module to initiate spark.






Scotty J. "AKA" The "Mad Porter"
"EMC 2006" 3rd place finisher
Ported BBF iron head specialist & Aluminum heads from all sources.
Custom ground cams
See our products in the Vendor for sale section
Customized crate engines
ParklandAutoMachine.com
R-H-P.biz
"Parkland Performance Auto Machine" Formerly RHP
(253)-988-6648
Parkland Auto Machine

So is there a certain voltage I should be seeing at the spout connector and at the ECU/ICM? Also do you know if there is any kind of test I could do to check the circuit board itself?

 

[The Mad Porter]

I don't know what pin in the ecm harness corresponds to the spout right off hand.
If you've got contenuity to the harness plug in and to the TFI then I'd get a new module.

Rock auto has good pricing if you can properly ID your ECU's part number and catch code.

If you open the ECM and look at the cannister capacitors. 5 or 6 of them. If leaking and they will after 20 years + you need to replace it anyway.

The attached pic is simply for reference...





Scotty J. "AKA" The "Mad Porter"
"EMC 2006" 3rd place finisher
Ported BBF iron head specialist & Aluminum heads from all sources.
Custom ground cams
See our products in the Vendor for sale section
Customized crate engines
ParklandAutoMachine.com
R-H-P.biz
"Parkland Performance Auto Machine" Formerly RHP
(253)-988-6648
Parkland Auto Machine

 

[Killrainbow]

I don't know what pin in the ecm harness corresponds to the spout right off hand.
If you've got contenuity to the harness plug in and to the TFI then I'd get a new module.

Rock auto has good pricing if you can properly ID your ECU's part number and catch code.

If you open the ECM and look at the cannister capacitors. 5 or 6 of them. If leaking and they will after 20 years + you need to replace it anyway.

The attached pic is simply for reference...





Scotty J. "AKA" The "Mad Porter"
"EMC 2006" 3rd place finisher
Ported BBF iron head specialist & Aluminum heads from all sources.
Custom ground cams
See our products in the Vendor for sale section
Customized crate engines
ParklandAutoMachine.com
R-H-P.biz
"Parkland Performance Auto Machine" Formerly RHP
(253)-988-6648
Parkland Auto Machine View attachment 95174

Awesome thank you very much, one final question, part # on mine is E8TF-BM1B, rock Auto does not stock it so could I use an alternative 1990 board or should I just find a rebuilder/ buy one from all computer resources

 

[The Mad Porter]

Awesome thank you very much, one final question, part # on mine is E8TF-BM1B, rock Auto does not stock it so could I use an alternative 1990 board or should I just find a rebuilder/ buy one from all computer resources

It appears that that part number spans several years. There were not many changes until 1993 / 94

Just make sure that the ECM matches your 49 states / Cali designation.





Scotty J. "AKA" The "Mad Porter"
"EMC 2006" 3rd place finisher
Ported BBF iron head specialist & Aluminum heads from all sources.
Custom ground cams
See our products in the Vendor for sale section
Customized crate engines
ParklandAutoMachine.com
R-H-P.biz
"Parkland Performance Auto Machine" Formerly RHP
(253)-988-6648
Parkland Auto Machine