[einstein87]

I have an engine from a '86 Mustang GT, 5.0L EFI. It sat in a truck behind my barn for a little over a year now, getting run around every 1-2 months. I recently replace the starter, solenoid, alternator, and battery, and now am having problems starting.

once it has been run, it cranks but will not start when hot or cold unless one of the battery cables is removed for about a minute to reset the ECM. the only other way to start it is to spray starting fluid into the throttle body (Which I am certain is very bad for the EFI system it has). I'm trying to isolate this problem, but it might just need to be driven for a while so the ECM relearns the engine. The other thing it does is when I move it around, and then take it out of gear, it idles for a few minutes, and then revs up significantly, definately more than the normal high idle. It has an automatic transmission if that helps.

Actually, this isn't an actual mustang car- it's a 86 ford F-150 with a factory remanunfactured Mustang 302 engine under the hood. the only modification performed when it was put in the truck was the truck exhaust headers were used. the transmission is the truck's original. interesting to note that having the mustang car camshaft, with it's high end torque peak, and the truck headers with their low end torque have given this engine what feels like broadband power, but probably would appear as two torque peaks on a dyno. I know I can light up all four mud tires on it in any gear.