Making the Cologne 2.9 Distributor-less using 4L OHV parts - TFI to EDIS Conversion

[DPDISXR4Ti]

Here's a pic of a "de-headed" 2.9 distributor. Just cut through the casting and shaft and then the shaft is machined for a snap-ring. A rubber cap goes over the top for any oil that might splash up by the shaft.

Cologne29DistributorMod-EDIS.jpg (99 KiB) Viewed 33250 times

If you don't have a lathe, it would probably be easier to just buy the part from a 24V 2.9 even with the cost to bring it across the pond - that's assuming the part is readily available in Europe.

I haven't given up on using the 4L part - just posting details as I find them.

[brokencase]

Is it possible to pull the crank pulley easily from the front of the engine without removing the radiator?

Could one work out inductive sensor mounting without having to remove the front cover?

From my perspective these are the hard parts of doing this conversion.

Lathe job and circlip on the distributor is trivial for me.

I think this would be one of those "all in" projects. New water pump, pull the cover off, new front cover seal, new timing chain and tensioner, and while the cover is off work out the EDIS sensor mounting, mount the toothed gear on the pulley, paint everything, etc...

As my brother always said. If you gotta go "in there" then make sure you do it all. Parts are cheap, it is the "session" that is costly.

And, as I said, I wouldn't pursue any of this until I was satisfied I had a microcontroller generating a proper SAW signal first.
This would probably include some bench testing of the micro connected up to the EDIS module on the bench to make sure I was getting spark.

In any case, the next time I am at the junkyard I will definitely look for the EDIS bits from a suitable 4.0L explorer.

[DPDISXR4Ti]

Is it possible to pull the crank pulley easily from the front of the engine without removing the radiator?

From a practical standpoint, probably not, especially if it hasn't been off recently. Details on the removal here...
http://forum.merkurclub.net/forum/viewt ... ey#p361161

Could one work out inductive sensor mounting without having to remove the front cover?

I believe yes. That's certainly my plan at this point (see my answer to your next question directly below)

I think this would be one of those "all in" projects. New water pump, pull the cover off, new front cover seal, new timing chain and tensioner, and while the cover is off work out the EDIS sensor mounting, mount the toothed gear on the pulley, paint everything, etc...

With the exception of the chain and tensioner, I did all that ^^^ last year when I switched to the Ranger front cover and re-worked/simplified the plumbing. But otherwise, yes, good time to go all in.

[DPDISXR4Ti]

If you don't have a lathe, it would probably be easier to just buy the part from a 24V 2.9 even with the cost to bring it across the pond - that's assuming the part is readily available in Europe.

Top Boss Automotive Ltd in the UK has these parts on hand and sells them for £85 plus the postage. However, he seems to think the 4L part that I already have should work. Need to play around with that some more. Here's some pics of the part from the DOHC 24V engine...

Cologne29DOHC-Plug-1.jpg (16.16 KiB) Viewed 33179 times

Cologne29DOHC-Plug-2.jpg (9.5 KiB) Viewed 33179 times

What's interesting is that this part exists on this engine given that it's a OHC and thus doesn't need a camshaft in the block to open the valves. What the factory did was just use an UN-lobed shaft on the OHC engines and otherwise drove the oil pump in the same manner as the 12V OHV engine. I assume the 4L SOHC engine works the same.

[brokencase]

There is a whole aftermarket distributor up on RockAuto clearance right now for $50. I could do a lathe job on that. But I passed it up for now.

I want to play with a micro connected to the TFI first.

[DPDISXR4Ti]

Just to throw some more options into the mix...

Robby Jay
"I used this on my 2.9 TFI distributor."
https://www.stinger-performance.com/sto ... YDCtFBISlE

"I am running Speeduino and using Tunerstuido to tune. I can use it as a cam sensor along with it as a crank sensor. I am not running sequential so I just needed to use as a crank sensor"

The challenge is that it is using 24-2 rather than 36-1. I talked to Shannon at Stinger about this and a 36-1 version won't very likely happen for a couple reasons. So if you go this route you really need to go with an after-market PCM, and one that supports a 24-2 input at cam speed (rather than crank).

[brokencase]

Interesting, but generally designed to work with their own PiMP engine management ECU or Megasquirt.
As far as I can tell, their ECU does not support the 2.9L, but I could be wrong.
...and you loose (what I believe) is the precision of a crank mounted toothed wheel.

[DPDISXR4Ti]

I now own this...

Cologne29-EDIS.jpg (544.11 KiB) Viewed 26787 times

[DPDISXR4Ti]

Above pictured parts removed from this engine, which never fired as pictured....

ChucksEDIS29-1.jpg (195.74 KiB) Viewed 26067 times

ChucksEDIS29-2.jpg (199.23 KiB) Viewed 26067 times

ChucksEDIS29-3.jpg (160.98 KiB) Viewed 26067 times

Pics grabbed from this thread....
http://forum.merkurclub.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8759

[brokencase]

So, What are your plans? Use the 4.0L ECM or Megasquirt?

As an aside, In that thread Chuck bolted the 2.9L to a T5 using a Mustang II bellhousing and a 2.3T clutch.

Question, Where did the T5 come from that he used? From what vehicle?

[DPDISXR4Ti]

So, What are your plans? Use the 4.0L ECM or Megasquirt?

I want to run a factory EEC-IV 4L OHV PCM (1990-94 Ranger or Explorer), which natively runs EDIS. Chuck's plan was to run Megasquirt (MS), as he discussed in this now 14 year-old thread...
https://turboford.org/thread-going-edis ... g-thoughts

I actually just replied to that thread - here's what I posted...

My plan, at least initially, is to run a factory EEC-IV PCM from a ~1994 4L OHV Ranger that natively runs EDIS.  As I understand it, the factory PCM wants the pick-up located at TDC while MS wants it 6 teeth (60 degrees) BTDC.  Is that correct? <edit - no, it is not - see below>
Chuck was setting this up for MS, so the mount he fabbed up locates the pick-up 60 degrees BTDC (the missing tooth is already clocked at TDC on the pulley and that's not getting moved).  I'm thinking my only solution is fabricate a new mount for the pick-up at TDC.
Just trying to vet out if I have any other options that don't require me to fab up a new mount, as I'm not even certain space allows it.

[DPDISXR4Ti]

As an aside, In that thread Chuck bolted the 2.9L to a T5 using a Mustang II bellhousing and a 2.3T clutch.

Question, Where did the T5 come from that he used? From what vehicle?

The Mustang II used a Borg-Warner RAD 4-speed, which was the predecessor to the T5. The bell-to-gearbox patterns are the same, hence the reason the bell can be used with a more modern T5. Like a typical T5 swap into a XR, Mustangs of the late-80's and early 90's are the typical donors. Probably best for that discussion to be it's own thread if we want to discuss further.

[DPDISXR4Ti]

More stuff to read...
http://www.megamanual.com/ms2/EDIS.htm

^^^ This is a very good page for explaining EDIS and how it works from a practical standpoint when setting up an engine not originally outfitted accordingly. The one thing I hadn't understood (until reading this) is that the crank pick-up is clocked 6 teeth BEHIND the missing tooth (for EDIS-6), exactly as Chuck did with the parts I now own. This is a function of EDIS and it doesn't matter if you're running a factory PCM, MS, or whatever. FWIW, I got confused by where the sensor is located on the 4L engine, but the crank pulley (with built in 36-1 wheel) is clocked differently to allow for that location.

For reference, the EDIS crank pick-up Chuck spec'd for his bracket is the one used on the 1991 - 2002 Ford Escort and 2000 - 2004 Ford Focus (Base 2L SPI engine), part# F1CZ6C315A. The pick-up is the same (electrically) regardless of the number of cylinders, so there's plenty to choose from. This one is the most common one chosen as it's got a fairly simple mounting.

[DPDISXR4Ti]

One footnote to add... If you're running MS or some other after-market PCM that doesn't use EDIS (but does use a 36-1 wheel), you can have more flexibility in choosing where the pick-up is located, but you certainly CAN use the same clocking as required by EDIS. So basically, you can upgrade to a factory distributor-less PCM today and perhaps go after-market later without any need to mess with the crank pulley again.

[brokencase]

I think you are free to locate the sensor where you wish. So long as you index the tooth ring in the proper position when you mount it to the crank.
In fact I think I would like a toothed ring mounting solution that would allow me to adjust the initial timing much like rotating the distributor.