Making cam position sensor for a 351w

thewestie · Post by **thewestie** » Mon Feb 15, 2016 4:55 pm

Hi.
Ive read that I can take a v6 sensor and a v8 sensor to make one work for a 351w.
Does any one have the specifics on this mod?
thanks

slow_hemi6 · Post by **slow_hemi6** » Mon Feb 15, 2016 6:18 pm

I think the explorer had a hall sensor type cam sensor pre 98. Is there still a difference between the pump hex size for 5.0 and 351W?
Ok answering my own question that's what the shaft out of the 99+ 3.8 explorer engine is for. To correct the shaft issue.
http://forums.corral.net/forums/aem-ems ... stall.html Some pics and info in this.

Raymond_B · Post by **Raymond_B** » Mon Feb 15, 2016 6:38 pm

I need to double check but you need like a 99-00 v6 and v8 use the v-6 shaft in v-8 housing. I am out of town, but when I get back I'll verify

slow_hemi6 · Post by **slow_hemi6** » Mon Feb 15, 2016 6:49 pm

Yes I found a post about it on corral.net and linked it in my post above.

thewestie · Post by **thewestie** » Thu Feb 18, 2016 8:03 am

Still looking for a definitive process of doing this. I'm overwhelmed with info
Thanks

Raymond_B · Post by **Raymond_B** » Thu Feb 18, 2016 8:46 am

What has been posted doesn't make sense?

billr · Post by **billr** » Thu Feb 18, 2016 1:36 pm

Are you wanting to use the dizzy for cam and crank triggering, or just for a cam trigger with a real crank wheel?

thewestie · Post by **thewestie** » Thu Feb 18, 2016 1:38 pm

Confliction info it will work it won't work. Is it a v6 3.8 or 4.2. Some say just swap shafts and it will work some say one is a cast iron great some say take the 5.0 gear on v6 shaft some say just machine v6 sensor and out will fit. I was hoping some one her had done thisl this personally and not seen or heard of it being done.
I was hopeing for apart number and quick do this do that and boom. Here you go
Thanks Steve

thewestie · Post by **thewestie** » Thu Feb 18, 2016 1:40 pm

billr wrote:Are you wanting to use the dizzy for cam and crank triggering, or just for a cam trigger with a real crank wheel?

I'm going with a 36-1 wheel and need the sensor to run my oil pump
Thanks.

billr · Post by **billr** » Thu Feb 18, 2016 2:02 pm

I'm still confused... you need the dizzy to run the oil pump, but no sensor unless you want a "cam" sensor. Why not use the stock dizzy for that engine, why all the mix-and-match fuss? There are a lot of fairly easy ways to add a cam sensor to a dizzy, even if it is an old breaker-point unit; if you even want a cam sensor.

Laminar · Post by **Laminar** » Thu Feb 18, 2016 2:14 pm

The Explorer cam sensor is way more compact than a full distributor.

thewestie · Post by **thewestie** » Thu Feb 18, 2016 3:06 pm

I don't even care if I have cam position sensor. I need it to run my oil pump. Currently running tfi and distributor. I'm looking to go with ls2 coil near plug with wasted spark. I want the hotter spark for boost.
Thanks

slow_hemi6 · Post by **slow_hemi6** » Thu Feb 18, 2016 6:35 pm

What I got from that thread was use the 5.0 sensor body with the 99 up V6 shaft and fit the 5.0 cam gear. The only conflicting part is the shop the guy used decided it was easier to just make a collar for the 99 up V6 shaft and fit the 5.0 gear. They obviously had a lathe but for the home mechanic the first option sounds the easiest.
Ask user raceron what he has done. He has a 410 windsor with sequential. http://www.msextra.com/forums/viewtopic ... 66#p455066

Raymond_B · Post by **Raymond_B** » Thu Feb 18, 2016 8:29 pm

Sadly, as with most stuff, there's no magic part number...

Mine is not in the vehicle yet, but here is what you want to do, or at least what I am doing...

Buy a 99 or 00 Explorer V-6 Cam sensor -- Bought mine off Ebay

Buy a 5.0 Explorer (00 is what I got) V-8 cam sensor -- Bought mine off Ebay

Remove the cam gears and shafts then take the shaft from the V-6 and place it in the V-8 housing.

What kind of cam are you running? **That** will determine the cam gear you need.

thewestie · Post by **thewestie** » Thu Feb 18, 2016 8:46 pm

slow_hemi6 wrote:What I got from that thread was use the 5.0 sensor body with the 99 up V6 shaft and fit the 5.0 cam gear. The only conflicting part is the shop the guy used decided it was easier to just make a collar for the 99 up V6 shaft and fit the 5.0 gear. They obviously had a lathe but for the home mechanic the first option sounds the easiest.
Ask user raceron what he has done. He has a 410 windsor with sequential. http://www.msextra.com/forums/viewtopic ... 66#p455066

I picked that up to. On reread I've got the v8 one in hand gonna ride by a pick and pull, look at 4.2 and 3.8 and see if there's a difference. Or go to parts store and drive the counter guy by chasing part numbers ;).

thewestie · Post by **thewestie** » Thu Feb 18, 2016 8:51 pm

Raymond_B wrote:Sadly, as with most stuff, there's no magic part number...

Mine is not in the vehicle yet, but here is what you want to do, or at least what I am doing...

Buy a 99 or 00 Explorer V-6 Cam sensor -- Bought mine off Ebay

Buy a 5.0 Explorer (00 is what I got) V-8 cam sensor -- Bought mine off Ebay

Remove the cam gears and shafts then take the shaft from the V-6 and place it in the V-8 housing.

What kind of cam are you running? **That** will determine the cam gear you need.

Thanks. Were you able to reuse roll pins and holes or have you redrilled new holes and checked for end play. First msd pro billit distributor I had a gear change on guy set gear to high first start it destroyed the distributor?
Thanks.

Raymond_B · Post by **Raymond_B** » Thu Feb 18, 2016 8:57 pm

thewestie wrote:
Raymond_B wrote:Sadly, as with most stuff, there's no magic part number...

Mine is not in the vehicle yet, but here is what you want to do, or at least what I am doing...

Buy a 99 or 00 Explorer V-6 Cam sensor -- Bought mine off Ebay

Buy a 5.0 Explorer (00 is what I got) V-8 cam sensor -- Bought mine off Ebay

Remove the cam gears and shafts then take the shaft from the V-6 and place it in the V-8 housing.

What kind of cam are you running? **That** will determine the cam gear you need.
Thanks. Were you able to reuse roll pins and holes or have you redrilled new holes and checked for end play. First msd pro billit distributor I had a gear change on guy set gear to high first start it destroyed the distributor?
Thanks.

No planned re-drilling here, I've never had to do that. It sounds like an incorrect gear was used (there are many camshaft materials and you must match the gear to your cam). Yes I was going to re-use the pin or if my gear comes with one I'll use it.

thewestie · Post by **thewestie** » Fri Feb 19, 2016 5:29 am

Proper gear was used bad instillation. On fords the gear and shaft get pushed up when moving and if you don't have enough clearance on shaft to base you can get in trouble

ashford · Post by **ashford** » Fri Feb 19, 2016 6:08 am

if you don't need a cam sensor just take an old distributor and chop the top off, cut the shaft a 1/2 inch shorter then plug the top. i have made a 351 cam phaser myself, it was actually alot of work. the sleeve on a v6 is actually a easy way to do it. i saved the phaser from a v6 when i did a v8 swap and also have an explorer one but havent had the inclination to compare them yet.

Laminar · Post by **Laminar** » Fri Feb 19, 2016 7:18 am

Raymond_B wrote:Buy a 5.0 Explorer (00 is what I got) V-8 cam sensor -- Bought mine off Ebay

One note on this if anyone does need the cam sensor - the '96-'98 Explorer 5.0 cam sensors are 3-pin Hall-effect sensors, but in '99 they switched to a 2-pin VR. I'm using the Hall-effect on my 5.0 build without issue.

If you need the full distributor replacement, it's called the "camshaft synchronizer" and can be found complete with sensor for about $35 on Rock Auto.

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