Electromechanical conversion

[CVN 80]

While I love my 2020 GT 6MT, I've come up with a new project to correct its various design flaws: A conversion to electromechanical instrumentation & switchgear.

I'm not really looking for more power or better handling, partly because I'm not driver enough to exploit the huge amount of both Ford designed into the car and partly because it's a daily, not a track slut. But I'm about at my wit's end with the vehicle's generally electronic character - the touchscreen...and the backup sensors...and the rearview camera...and the 1/4" window drop...and all the other supposed progress that's made me seriously consider an '88 Trans Am for my next car.

Whenever I get in and start up, the first things I do are turn off the backup beeper and the traction control because of course they reset when you shut the vehicle off. I'm sick of having to do this every time I want to go somewhere. It's not my fault some halfwit backed over his kid. I always walk around the car before I leave and I look around when reversing. I don't need a backup camera. The Safetyism, and the implication that I'm some kind of halfwit, is off-putting to say the least.

So my plan is to replace the instrument cluster and centerstack with fabricated panels full of gauges & switches from the Summit Racing catalog - or wherever -and convert the car's functions (other than engine control) from electronic to electromechanical, each on its own independent circuit.

I don't want 50 different options for each control, I'd much rather have 50 different controls that each do one thing. I don't want to "customize my driving experience." IDGAF about infotainment or fancy animation. What do I need streaming audio for? I got off the Progress Train at MP3 Avenue. I don't want the car binging & bonging at me about Low Washer Fluid or an open hood. I know the hood's open - who do you think opened it? It's what you do when you change oil!

The touchscreen lags in both very hot and very cold weather. WHEN it eventually breaks, it'll do so without warning and be impossible to repair. Which, I know, is the style of the time.

Which means I'm gonna have to build a switch panel for the HVAC, modify the window trim & lock out the window-drop feature, wire each gauge on its own sensor, isolate the ignition interlock in favor of an Outside Context Problem and so forth. This will no doubt require bypassing the body control modules, but since this car's a keeper and I'm never selling it, resale value is a non-concern. Good Lord, there's no reason a power window should be complex!

This is inline with my general future-proofing of the car, such as my other long-term project to replace all the plastic parts in the engine bay with proper metal ones. I swear, this age of plastic and electronics we live in is wearing thin enough to see through.

Anyway, now I have a reason to install those arming-cover switches I've had my eye on. And proper mechanical door locks.

Anything else I should consider for this conversion?

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[RazzaRossa]

Buy the Trans Am. Upgrading or trying to fix is a 10lbs. Of worms in a 5lb can senario.

 

[Cobra Jet]

Better have the factory shop manual and wiring schematics - there’s too many modules that are tied in on a modern S550….

Maybe go to the project sub-forum on here to see what “gutters” are doing with their race cars,; they would be the best sources to ask questions regarding lopping out control systems etc.

—

As for the window auto-up down feature when opening, closing the doors…. If the glass doesn’t drop when you go to close the door the window will slam on the body potentially breaking it. The only way to get around that is to get custom window glass made that will be proportionately correct when the door is closed. Even if you were to make the factory glass static so it is already in the dropped position, it won’t be sealed properly because now the window is “down” that 1/4”+ inch.

——

These cars are definitely not like the cars of the 89’s, 90’s or early 00’s that didn’t have miles of wiring harnessed and multiple modules tying back to the PCM.

In fact, and better yet, go to the Factory 5 forums and read up on how those guys put a Coyote with the Ford Control Packs into a Factory 5 kit car that is just barebones drivetrain and body shell. That seems like what you’re wanting to do with your S550 being that you’re deleting all else.

 

[CVN 80]

Better have the factory shop manual and wiring schematics - there’s too many modules that are tied in on a modern S550….

Maybe go to the project sub-forum on here to see what “gutters” are doing with their race cars,; they would be the best sources to ask questions regarding lopping out control systems etc.

—

As for the window auto-up down feature when opening, closing the doors…. If the glass doesn’t drop when you go to close the door the window will slam on the body potentially breaking it. The only way to get around that is to get custom window glass made that will be proportionately correct when the door is closed. Even if you were to make the factory glass static so it is already in the dripped position, it won’t be sealed properly because now the window is “down” that 1/4”+ inch.

——

These cars are definitely not like the cars of the 89’s, 90’s or early 00’s that didn’t have miles of wiring harnessed and multiple modules tying back to the PCM.

In fact, a better yet, go to the Factory 5 forums and read up on how those guys put a Coyote with the Ford Control Packs into a Factory 5 kit car that is just barebones drivetrain and body shell. That seems like what you’re wanting to do with your S550 being that you’re deleting all else.

I figured I'd need the master wiring diagrams but if the car was built, it can be MOSTLY unbuilt and that's my intention.

 

[ORRadtech]

Yeah, I don't think just changing the wiring is going to accomplish what you want. Everything is way to interconnected electronically, which is orders of magnitude different than electrically. Unless you have extensive experience/knowledge of software engineering and architecture all you're going to do is create an undrivable car.
As someone said, just go buy that TransAm, you'll save yourself money and a ton of headaches and end up with what you really want...

 

[CVN 80]

Yeah, I don't think just changing the wiring is going to accomplish what you want. Everything is way to interconnected electronically, which is orders of magnitude different than electrically. Unless you have extensive experience/knowledge of software engineering and architecture all you're going to do is create an undrivable car.
As someone said, just go buy that TransAm, you'll save yourself money and a ton of headaches and end up with what you really want...

You make a good point, but part of me wants to do this work to SPITE modernity, to reject those parts of it that I find troubling. I want my car to be the way I want it, not how someone else would have it be.

 

[ORRadtech]

So cut off your nose to spite your face, huh?
If the modernity is so agregious I wonder why you bought it in the first place?

 

[CVN 80]

So cut off your nose to spite your face, huh?
If the modernity is so agregious I wonder why you bought it in the first place?

Because under all the electronics, the basic car is good and worth saving. And I like it.

 

[ORRadtech]

Well, good luck with whatever you decide to do.

 

[luca1290]

You make a good point, but part of me wants to do this work to SPITE modernity, to reject those parts of it that I find troubling. I want my car to be the way I want it, not how someone else would have it be.

What trouble is giving you the car, as of now? Zero.
She's performing as designed, and you don't like it. You just bought the wrong car.
Buy a first or second series Mustang if you prefer an analog experience.

And having a backup camera (that can be disabled) ar some chimes (that can too be disabled via Forscan very easily) that add a tangible amount of safety it's not the end of the World; wait and see when you'll have mandatory Speed Limit Assist, what would you do?

 

[luca1290]

Because under all the electronics, the basic car is good and worth saving. And I like it.

.... under all the electronics, cars have not changed much till the 90's.
It's all the electronics that makes all the fun and torque.

 

[RazzaRossa]

Like Cobra Jet said, head over to the Factory Five Forums (there are 2 good ones) and go to the Coyote swap sections. Essentially they are doing what you want, those cars don't need (or want) all the crap our cars are burdened with in the name of gas mileage, or accesories out the ying-yang, just the essentials to run the Coyote at peak performance. Heck we'd be doing it to if we weren't so worried about warranties, resale, and the big "ET" emissions testing.
I built a FFR back at the turn of the century (seems like yesterday), even then we had to gut the wire harness down to basic engine control without The 10 million extra feet of wires and cables (they called it a "wire diet"). But it ran flawless, and strong. Why not a Gen 3? Way more complicated. I wish you luck, let us know how it goes...

 

[ORRadtech]

wait and see when you'll have mandatory Speed Limit Assist, what would you do?

At some point our modern cars will be considered absolutely archaic. At some point I'm sure human driven cars will be banned. Hell your likely to only find an S650 in a museum as the last V8 made...
I won't live to see it but I have no doubt it's coming.

 

[engineermike]

Why do you even bother turning off traction control if you are “not driver enough to exploit the huge amount of [power] Ford designed into the car”?

 

[Cashley]

sell that car before you ruin it and buy a foxbody.

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