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Re: Making the Cologne 2.9 Distributor-less using 4L OHV parts - TFI/SD to EDIS/MAF Conversion
Pin 8 not connected is going to generate a fault code because it can't see a change when the pump starts. Wire it as per the ranger circuit.
So you firing order is 1-4-2-5-3-6?
It's wasted spark so 1&5, 4&3 and 2&6 always fire as pairs.
You say 4&5 don't strobe the light. You should have lost 3&1 at the same time as they are the wasted spark leads paired with 4&5. Check your firing order. Possibly the coil pack is shorting to earth at 4&5 secondary side, that would allow 3&1 to spark while 4&5 leads show nothing.
So you firing order is 1-4-2-5-3-6?
It's wasted spark so 1&5, 4&3 and 2&6 always fire as pairs.
You say 4&5 don't strobe the light. You should have lost 3&1 at the same time as they are the wasted spark leads paired with 4&5. Check your firing order. Possibly the coil pack is shorting to earth at 4&5 secondary side, that would allow 3&1 to spark while 4&5 leads show nothing.
Cheers
John
95 Escort RS Cosworth - CARD QUIK COSY ANTI / GHAJ0
Moates QH & BE
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John
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Moates QH & BE
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Re: Making the Cologne 2.9 Distributor-less using 4L OHV parts - TFI/SD to EDIS/MAF Conversion
I'm okay with ignoring the fault code, if that's all it is. I don't think this effects anything operationally.
Correct, all the way around.
That would indeed be correct IF it was a coil or perhaps a EDIS module/wiring issue. That's why I right away thought of ignition leads, which also happen to be much longer on that side. Replacing the three wires on that side resulted in good light strobing, but still rough running. I readily admit, that doesn't make sense - I was pretty sure I was on to something.
I have read that it's much more important to have resistor plugs with EDIS. I'm not even sure what's in there now - they were fine with the original TFI setup, but it's probably worth pulling them.
Brad
Re: Making the Cologne 2.9 Distributor-less using 4L OHV parts - TFI/SD to EDIS/MAF Conversion
Cylinder 6, the middle cylinder or the middle coil??DPDISXR4Ti wrote: ↑Mon Aug 19, 2024 1:46 pm
Cylinder 6 - the one in the middle - I get intermittent strobing.
Apparently some coil packs have pin 1 as 12v power and others are pin 4...something else to check out.
Cheers
John
95 Escort RS Cosworth - CARD QUIK COSY ANTI / GHAJ0
Moates QH & BE
ForDiag
John
95 Escort RS Cosworth - CARD QUIK COSY ANTI / GHAJ0
Moates QH & BE
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Re: Making the Cologne 2.9 Distributor-less using 4L OHV parts - TFI/SD to EDIS/MAF Conversion
The middle coil fires cyl 6, and fires last.
I had read about 12V being on pin 1 vs. pin 4, and found that info suspect - I think it may have been due to how the connector was viewed. That said, I'll re-review that and take some comparative resistance readings on the three coil-packs I have here.
Brad
Re: Making the Cologne 2.9 Distributor-less using 4L OHV parts - TFI/SD to EDIS/MAF Conversion
The EDIS module just fires coils in sequence A-B-C.
Firing order 1-4-2-5-3-6;
Coil A 1&5
Coil B 4&3
Coil C 2&6
Assumes;
Edis pin 10 to Coil A
Edis pin 11 to Coil B
Edis pin 12 to Coil C
Or has 11 & 12 been crossed to coil C & B?
It'd be worth having one edis pin connected at a time to confirm which coil tower gives spark.
Firing order 1-4-2-5-3-6;
Coil A 1&5
Coil B 4&3
Coil C 2&6
Assumes;
Edis pin 10 to Coil A
Edis pin 11 to Coil B
Edis pin 12 to Coil C
Or has 11 & 12 been crossed to coil C & B?
It'd be worth having one edis pin connected at a time to confirm which coil tower gives spark.
Cheers
John
95 Escort RS Cosworth - CARD QUIK COSY ANTI / GHAJ0
Moates QH & BE
ForDiag
John
95 Escort RS Cosworth - CARD QUIK COSY ANTI / GHAJ0
Moates QH & BE
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Re: Making the Cologne 2.9 Distributor-less using 4L OHV parts - TFI/SD to EDIS/MAF Conversion
I think I just figured it out! Studying the timing light a little more closely, it would seem it's ~30 degrees advanced from where the factory PCM wants it! The guy who set the trigger wheel to the pulley intended to use Megasquirt, which I think could readily be set to wherever. I thought for sure I had checked that the missing tooth was set 60 degrees from TDC, but maybe it was set to 90? That seems like a lot to have missed, but I've done stupid things before.
Brad
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Re: Making the Cologne 2.9 Distributor-less using 4L OHV parts - TFI/SD to EDIS/MAF Conversion
Confirmed that the missing tooth is located at TDC. I bet the sensor is located at 90 degrees BTDC rather than 60.

Brad
Re: Making the Cologne 2.9 Distributor-less using 4L OHV parts - TFI/SD to EDIS/MAF Conversion
10 degrees per tooth, so move the sensor to suit.
Is that pic with the engine sitting at TDC?
Is that pic with the engine sitting at TDC?
Cheers
John
95 Escort RS Cosworth - CARD QUIK COSY ANTI / GHAJ0
Moates QH & BE
ForDiag
John
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Moates QH & BE
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Re: Making the Cologne 2.9 Distributor-less using 4L OHV parts - TFI/SD to EDIS/MAF Conversion
Right. Problem is, I don't think the sensor can't really be moved 30 degrees. That would put it right about at the seam between the pan and block where the castings jut out. I just got this pic minutes ago from the guy who initially built it. It shows the 90 degrees of separation. With MS, that wasn't an issue. What I'll need to do is remove and rotate the trigger wheel. Fortunately, it was never welded in place.
No, it's probably about 180 degrees from TDC.
Brad
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Re: Making the Cologne 2.9 Distributor-less using 4L OHV parts - TFI/SD to EDIS/MAF Conversion
At least not with that bracket. However you MIGHT be able to fabricate a bracket that holds the sensor "upside-down" such that the bracket is out in front instead of behind it. Then the lip MIGHT not be a big deal. Although this would put the top of the sensor up close, if not in direct contact, with the pan which isn't ideal.DPDISXR4Ti wrote: ↑Fri Aug 23, 2024 8:41 am...I don't think the sensor can really be moved 30 degrees. That would put it right about at the seam between the pan and block where the castings jut out...
However if removing and rotating the ring is easier, that's probably a more elegant solution to rough-in the timing. As long as it is "close", you can alter your spark in the tune to compensate for being a few degrees off.
...Always Somethin'
89 Ranger Supercab, 331 w/GT40p heads, ported Explorer lower, Crane Powermax 2020 cam, FMS Explorer (GT40p) headers, aftermarket T5 'Z-Spec', GUFB, Moates QuarterHorse tuned using BE&EA
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89 Ranger Supercab, 331 w/GT40p heads, ported Explorer lower, Crane Powermax 2020 cam, FMS Explorer (GT40p) headers, aftermarket T5 'Z-Spec', GUFB, Moates QuarterHorse tuned using BE&EA
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Re: Making the Cologne 2.9 Distributor-less using 4L OHV parts - TFI/SD to EDIS/MAF Conversion
I disagree. Instead of base timing at 10°btdc, it is 30 off puting it at 40°btdc. Tuneable range becomes 20°btdc to 90°btdc.DPDISXR4Ti wrote: ↑Fri Aug 23, 2024 8:41 am I just got this pic minutes ago from the guy who initially built it. It shows the 90 degrees of separation. With MS, that wasn't an issue.
Cool.What I'll need to do is remove and rotate the trigger wheel. Fortunately, it was never welded in place.
Cheers
John
95 Escort RS Cosworth - CARD QUIK COSY ANTI / GHAJ0
Moates QH & BE
ForDiag
John
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Moates QH & BE
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Re: Making the Cologne 2.9 Distributor-less using 4L OHV parts - TFI/SD to EDIS/MAF Conversion
It runs! Just back from the inaugural trip around the neighborhood. Currently running the '91 4L OHV Explorer 5-speed PCM, if only because that was the last one I had in there. I'll try the Ranger one at some point for comparison.
Checked the timing (spout out), and it's about 13 degrees BTDC. If needed, I could probably set it at 10' by moving the sensor, but as long as it doesn't knock I'll likely leave it right there.
A lot of little issues to sort out now, but at least the big one is solved.
A big thanks to John for staying engaged and making me re-think through everything.
Checked the timing (spout out), and it's about 13 degrees BTDC. If needed, I could probably set it at 10' by moving the sensor, but as long as it doesn't knock I'll likely leave it right there.
A lot of little issues to sort out now, but at least the big one is solved.
A big thanks to John for staying engaged and making me re-think through everything.
Brad
Re: Making the Cologne 2.9 Distributor-less using 4L OHV parts - TFI/SD to EDIS/MAF Conversion
Good stuff, glad you got it sorted.
Cheers
John
95 Escort RS Cosworth - CARD QUIK COSY ANTI / GHAJ0
Moates QH & BE
ForDiag
John
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Moates QH & BE
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Re: Making the Cologne 2.9 Distributor-less using 4L OHV parts - TFI/SD to EDIS/MAF Conversion
Just back from a ~20 mile highway run. Runs great! No evidence of pinging, so 13' base timing will stay as-is.
NSS works just the same as it did before.
Fuel computer even works! Completely undocumented, but the output on the Explorer PCM is there on pin 34, and it's generic enough that it works with the Scorpio fuel computer. I presume the output is also there with the Ranger PCM, but I haven't had a chance to try tossing that one back in there yet.
The VSS remains disconnected. I may get to that later.
Tach is disconnected. I'll work on that. As discussed above, there are solutions.
I have some cleaning up work to do - wires are ugly at the moment - but the hard stuff is done.
NSS works just the same as it did before.
Fuel computer even works! Completely undocumented, but the output on the Explorer PCM is there on pin 34, and it's generic enough that it works with the Scorpio fuel computer. I presume the output is also there with the Ranger PCM, but I haven't had a chance to try tossing that one back in there yet.
The VSS remains disconnected. I may get to that later.
Tach is disconnected. I'll work on that. As discussed above, there are solutions.
I have some cleaning up work to do - wires are ugly at the moment - but the hard stuff is done.

Brad
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Re: Making the Cologne 2.9 Distributor-less using 4L OHV parts - TFI/SD to EDIS/MAF Conversion
Now that the proof of concept has been proven, what's special about this 2.9L? Has it been internally built/modified that makes it stronger than stock?
My truck used to be a 2.9L with the 5 speed manual, and while it wasn't wimpy compared the 2.3L, it couldn't compare to the stock Explorer 5.0L I replaced it with. The 331 that replaced it improved off-idle torque even more making WOT in 1st gear completely stupid. But the 331 upgrade probably wasn't as big of a jump as the 2.9L->5.0L was.
At the time, there wasn't a lot of options for the Cologne engines so I never even considered modifying the original engine.
My truck used to be a 2.9L with the 5 speed manual, and while it wasn't wimpy compared the 2.3L, it couldn't compare to the stock Explorer 5.0L I replaced it with. The 331 that replaced it improved off-idle torque even more making WOT in 1st gear completely stupid. But the 331 upgrade probably wasn't as big of a jump as the 2.9L->5.0L was.
At the time, there wasn't a lot of options for the Cologne engines so I never even considered modifying the original engine.
...Always Somethin'
89 Ranger Supercab, 331 w/GT40p heads, ported Explorer lower, Crane Powermax 2020 cam, FMS Explorer (GT40p) headers, aftermarket T5 'Z-Spec', GUFB, Moates QuarterHorse tuned using BE&EA
Member V8-Ranger.com
89 Ranger Supercab, 331 w/GT40p heads, ported Explorer lower, Crane Powermax 2020 cam, FMS Explorer (GT40p) headers, aftermarket T5 'Z-Spec', GUFB, Moates QuarterHorse tuned using BE&EA
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Re: Making the Cologne 2.9 Distributor-less using 4L OHV parts - TFI/SD to EDIS/MAF Conversion
It's a bone-stock motor. It's mostly my wife's car. As such, reliability is the biggest requirement. When a coil failure left her at a remote trail-head and I got a "no start" call, I stepped up my planning to make the car distributor-less. My first thought that day was TFI or PIP failure.
I'll equip her now with a spare coil-pack, EDIS6 module, and PCM (and the tools/knowledge to swap them). That said, the likelihood of any of those failing is much lower than the disty stuff.
One day the car might get a different engine - I'd probably go Duratec/MZR - but no time-table for that.
Brad
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