zonker

I've got a 91 mustang 2.3 with an automatic and it's a calif model.

Would a federal model or a different year ECU from another mustang (or ranger??) be a nice cheap upgrade?

I tend to believe the earliest year that accepts the DIS and AT from a federal model would be the moost aggressive in terms of stock fuel and timing maps.

your thoughts??

sleeper_inc

There is no better computer... sorry

zonker

How about the difference between the California and federal models? Typically the Federal ones are a little more liberal with ignition timing and egr control.

You don't think substituting out a CA ecu for a Fed ecu might help?

sleeper_inc

They had the same computer after 1990 sooooo there would really be n gain what so ever, caly models have the same HP as the non caly models. Only they got MAF a year or two earlier

zonker

naw - different computers.

91-93 2.3 A/T (Federal): F1ZF-12A650-BB (D1L1)
" " " " (Calif): F1ZF-12A650-DB (J1D1)

91-93 2.3 M/T (Federal): F1ZF-12A650-AB (C1A1)
" " " " (Calif): F1ZF-12A650-CB (...)

they BB and DB interchange as far as function goes, but they have different programs, and if I had to guess, the Federal models allow the car to run a little dirtier and get a little better hp and/or gas mileage.

On the 98-up Escort ZX2's this holds very true. Typically on that car, the older federal pcms produce more power and mileage even though Ford rates them as the "same".

sleeper_inc

If you had the answer then why even ask the question? and test it out, let us know how it goes

zonker

I don't want to re-invent the wheel if someone has already done this, and if someone had, then i wouldn't have to buy a second ecu for my car if it's not going to help.

so... if anyone out there has swapped ecu's from cali to federal (or some other box), let me know and save me the learning curve expense on this car.