EFIDynoTuning Forum

Ford is now offering the 7.3L V8 as a crate motor with an optional ECU. It appears to be a VIN-less standalone version of the current truck ECU.

I'm wondering what a swap into an EEC-4, EEC-V, or PowerPC -era Ford would entail? I'm thinking the EEC-IV would be easy, just replace the EEC-IV with the new ECU. EEC-V would be a little more complicated, would have to figure out how to get the cluster to function, maybe run the ECUs in parallel with the EEC-V basically just getting VSS from chassis to run speedo/odo and cam/crank sensor to run the tach and then let the 7.3 EEC have actual control of the engine, fuel pump, etc? PowerPC seems like it'd be a nightmare - I guess one could attempt running the 7.3 with the existing PowerPC computer but things like VCT may or may not have functionality. Swapping the 7.3 ECU in place of the PowerPC would be impossible unless it can be flashed with a VIN and the can-bus protocols are all still the same from 15+ years ago.....

Anybody figured this out yet?

its all the same

no matter which route you go the ecu does the same basic function

some of the scp (cluster talk) between eec-v and powerpc is the same, some tricores (early coyotes) may have been the same as well so shouldn't be an issue for the cluster

a vin is NOT needed and has no affect on flashing

the bosch ecu still has the same limitations all the 05+ ecus have. Thats not having any realtime tuning capability. Thats what makes the eec-v so nice.

So, if you were shopping for an old Ford to drop a 7.3L in, which generation EEC would you choose to start with? Also which ECU would you use to run the 7.3L? The Ford racing offering? The original EEC in the project car? Or an aftermarket system such as OBR, Holley, or megasquirt?

What I'm after here is I've still got that '07 town car which the more I think about it would be a great home for a 7.3L but I'm thinking it'd be a heck of a lot simpler to get it up and running in an earlier car due to the 07 being a CANBUS/powerPC system. I have a hard time believing a 2022-era ECU is going to get along with 2005-era can-bus stuff in the car. Also, fwiw, Ford's site says trying to put the 7.3L ECU in production car will result in a no-start. Obviously this is referring to CANBUS or newer as an older EEC-4/5 car wouldn't look any different to a 7.3L ECU than a 1940 Chevy chassis would. I assume that interlock in the 7.3L ECU could be tuned around, but it still seems like a major science project trying to get it to communicate with a powerPC-era can-bus system.

to clarify a vin is NOT needed has no affect. the ecu doesnt care

if its not drive by wire then eec-v is going to be the best you can get

you can use a 22 cluster its only 2 wires same as the 99 on up.

that no start is a simple fix just simply bypass the starter relay.

tuning wise your far better off just going with any aftermarket ecu if your going to go drive by wire

Well the 7.3L comes with a drive by wire throttle body, but that can be easily swapped with a cable one. What concerns me more is the VCT system. Obviously an EEC-V has no capability to run that. So I guess if you've got it cammed up enough to need VCT lockout, any old V8 EEC could probably be tuned to run it (things like coil drivers and crank/cam sync may be a science project but nothing insurmountable). On the other hand, if you want to keep the VCT, you need a newer ECU system.

Looking at wiring diagrams, the earlier EEC-V stuff ('95-'99ish depending on model) appears to process the VSS through the GEM with both the cluster and the EEC receiving it from there. This appears to mean that you could remove the EEC and still have a functional speedometer. Am I correct in that assessment?

Finally, for the '07, what I'm hearing is that running the Ford racing ECU combined with the cluster that's in the car now is going to be a big unknown, at best. Yes, a '22 cluster could be swapped in, but cluster swaps usually turn the dash into a hack job due to different lines and contours and is not something I'm looking to do. Which leaves me with the option of A) try to run the 7.3L engine with the existing 4.6L 2v powerPC ECU, 2) try to parallel the ECUs, or 3) go find an earlier car lol

yeah i was referring to the install itself

yeah the early eec v didnt calc vehicle speed

if your planning to use the engine just as comes and not do anything major modification wise then your best bet is to use the godzilla ecu

even if the scp is different its no biggie to run both to feed your cluster and assumably run the trans too.

Thinking tremec 6-spd for the trans. Otherwise the Ford racing ECU will control a 10R40. That fits horribly in anything less than a full size truck. I think they're working on a 10R80 and manual versions of the controller. I'm a manual guy at heart.

Also these engines dyno at 500+ and even more torque with a set of headers, no need for crazy mods unless you're drag racing. I'm just looking for a big comfy street machine. As it turns out, Town Cars are about the size of the larger muscle cars of the 60s and weigh no more than a modern Dodge Challenger, so it's not as far fetched as it sounds.

2008 CrownVic stock EEC controlling Godzilla 7.3:
https://youtu.be/A-ALf2cax9s

Wow, thanks! I didn't even think to look for videos yet, figured there's no way anybody has gotten around to a panther swap yet.