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Author Topic: turbo 2.3 swap- need wiring help  (Read 1418 times)

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Offline rowdyrunabout

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turbo 2.3 swap- need wiring help
« on: May 21, 2018, 02:01:00 PM »
I have a 76 runabout with an 84 turbo tbird swap. I think I'm down to one wire from starting it.
I have no fire. I need to know where to splice in my pinto coil wire (start/run) into the tbird coil wiring harness.
I'm sure there was a wire from the tbird donor car, but I only pulled the engine harness. I think I have it narrowed down to a gray hard shell that probably went back to the tbird fuse panel. Is it as simple as taking my red pinto coil wire to the pos side of the tbird coil? 1 1/2 yrs on this- can't afford to make a mistake. Thanks to anyone that can point me in the right direction. while I have attention, I need to know where my aftermarket tach wire goes in the turbo harness?
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Offline Wittsend

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Re: turbo 2.3 swap- need wiring help
« Reply #1 on: May 21, 2018, 03:43:32 PM »
I don't the the exact answer. Many the ECU's were wired differently. And I swapped the steering column and harness  from my '88 T/C donor car. So, I never had to deal with that.  There was a resistance wire in the column that might have been for the coil. IF..., (and, I don't know) the Pinto had a resistance wire as well it would (at least should) need to be rated the same as the T/C setup.

All that said, I believe (but am not not 100% sure) there is a constant 12V+ (nominal) voltage to the coil. IF..., it works like points and say..., the Pertronix systems the coil is always 12V+ hot and the pulsing of the ground is what triggers the coil.

Jerry (Old Kayaker) posts some the the manual information and if you search this site you may find your answer.  Sorry I'm no more help, but hope you get an answer soon.
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Offline rowdyrunabout

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Re: turbo 2.3 swap- need wiring help
« Reply #2 on: May 21, 2018, 06:00:54 PM »
ok- thanks. I ohmed that gray hard shell. did lead to the coil. I wired my coil hot. still won't fire. the ecu gets warm- not sure if that should happen or not! I have the feeling the ecu is not sending signals- guess I need to pull a sensor and check-
brain was good when I started- so was the ecu!
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Offline Wittsend

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Re: turbo 2.3 swap- need wiring help
« Reply #3 on: May 21, 2018, 06:34:57 PM »

This link, starting at post #7 onward might be helpful. You can also search out Jerry (Old Kayaker) and see if he has other posts. In the past (but not much recently) he would reply to these types of questions.

http://www.fordpinto.com/general-pinto-talk/turbo-pinto-5-years-finally-running-right!!!/msg139744/#msg139744
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Offline oldkayaker

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Re: turbo 2.3 swap- need wiring help
« Reply #4 on: May 22, 2018, 05:53:23 AM »
I have no experience with the 1984 TC but did find some on line wiring diagrams, see links below.  It looks like the 84 TC uses a resistor in the wire between the coil negative terminal and the computer.  It also appears the coil positive terminal gets full voltage (no resistor) from the ignition switch.  The 76 Pinto uses a resistor wire from the ignition switch run/start position to the coil positive terminal according to the ETM.
http://www.mc-machine.com/pdf/1984.pdf
http://foureyedpride.com/pdfs/83_84_Turbo4_EEC.pdf                VERY LARGE FILE
http://www.rothfam.com/svo/reference/84SVO.pdf
http://www.rothfam.com/svo/reference/84Mustang-Thunderbird.pdf
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Jerry J - Jupiter, Florida

Offline rowdyrunabout

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Re: turbo 2.3 swap- need wiring help
« Reply #5 on: May 22, 2018, 01:05:28 PM »
That's great info- and I think gets me pointed in the right direction. I'll do a few more volt readings, ohm checks, and review the info you attached. Then let you know what happens.
Thanks to both of you for your help!!!
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Offline rowdyrunabout

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Re: turbo 2.3 swap- need wiring help
« Reply #6 on: May 23, 2018, 06:28:50 PM »
alright, thought I had it straight. Tracked down ignition wire to coil pos, to dist, and it actually ran to ecu relay. Found that I needed a start wire splice to dist (pin 4). I believe I've accounted for the needed wires to fire it up. Still won't start. Turning over not trying to start. Tested the coil. Secondary was bad. went and got a new one and put it in-(didn't test before I started- should have). tried to start- nothing. tested that coil primary-good. Tested the secondary----bad-wide open. Any Ideas? thx
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Offline Wittsend

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Re: turbo 2.3 swap- need wiring help
« Reply #7 on: May 24, 2018, 04:42:50 PM »

 "I need to know where to splice in my pinto coil wire (start/run) into the tbird coil wiring harness"


 Update, I believe I need to correct myself. From what I am seeing (spent about a hour looking into this) there is a wire from the key start switch to the coil. If you have that voltage (assumed 12V) then I'd look to the PIP (distributor trigger), TFI or the ECU. From what I can tell the distributors PIP sends a signal to the TFI module (likely to amplify the weak signal), then to the ECU???, then back to another section of the TFI??? then to the coil.  It is what is happening between the TFI and the ECU that is confusing. I do MUCH better when everything is laid out in a progressive timeline but what schematic ever does that? (self answered question, NONE)


BTW, on my '88 the two wires to the coil come down the drivers side, across the radiator cradle then half the way back to the firewall to get to the coil. Was this done for isolation???


Did all this run before you acquired it?  Having now done this with a donor car I'd never do a swap just collecting parts. There are just too many little things to be acconted for.



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Offline rowdyrunabout

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Re: turbo 2.3 swap- need wiring help
« Reply #8 on: July 03, 2018, 04:55:15 PM »
just an update. Finally got the wiring right- thanks to you guys. Coil was bad. I killed it with bad initial wiring. Also didn't have enough fuel pressure. Got that right. Had to put the fuel pump in tank- in addition to external. It runs. has some hesitation- I think vacuum probs. But I can tell that it has some guts. Keeps wanting to overheat. changed from 192 therm to 160- so I could be sure it was cooling before hurting it. I will need direction on cooling- will start another post- thanks again.
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Offline Wittsend

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Re: turbo 2.3 swap- need wiring help
« Reply #9 on: July 03, 2018, 06:54:56 PM »
Glad you got that sorted correctly.  Not much to the needed vacuum wise. I still have the vacuum tree but frankly all it does is feed the boost gage.  So, I could eliminate it.  EGR is gone and other vauum needing accessory as well. Should be just a few hoses for the boost control (as per my factory IHI '88 turbo setup). Do note there is a very prominent diagram on the internet that is wrong.  I'll see if I can find the proper setup. I remember is was a topic of mine some time ago.


OK, AS BEST I CAN TELL..., this is the correct diagram. http://turbotbird.com/faqs/Vac_Diagram.htm  It is actually from a NATO post I made years ago. Post number 242582 showing in the uper right of the page near the date.  http://natomessageboard.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=242582#Post242582
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Offline 65ShelbyClone

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Re: turbo 2.3 swap- need wiring help
« Reply #10 on: July 14, 2018, 10:02:06 PM »
Quote from: rowdyrunabout on July 03, 2018, 04:55:15 PM
Keeps wanting to overheat. changed from 192 therm to 160- so I could be sure it was cooling before hurting it. I will need direction on cooling- will start another post- thanks again.
How do you mean? The electric fan didn't come on until the mid-220°F range with a stock 2.3T. Fortunately you have a '74 chassis and replacement radiators are both available and large enough to cool a 2.3T. If/when you get the cooling under control, go back to a 192/195°F thermostat. That's what the ECU typically needs to properly come out of "warm-up" mode.

I ran a tiny stock '71-73 radiator that was in bad condition in my car for a while and it was on the ragged edge in mild weather. Now that I have a first-gen Mustang radiator, the fans are the limiting factor.
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'72 Runabout - 2.3T, T5, MegaSquirt-II, 8", 5-lugs, big brakes.
'68 Mustang - Built roller 302, Toploader, 9", etc.
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