Im still under slow way on my BBC swap and build. Im taking my time. I did want to build a tough A$$ 496 Street engine for very little track. I've more and more been getting interested in Fuel Injection. At first It didnt appeal to me. But there just seems to be something about it. The idea of a nicely homebuild 468 Fuel Injected engine sounds very appealing to me. Im going to start rummiging through the archives here on Fuel Injected. I don't know alot about it. What all is different other than the Carburetor, and Manifold? Do the inside set up differently? Maybe if someone has a nice runner and some pictures that would be super. Hope to hear some responces on this.
graemlins/waving.gif

I don't have any pictures or FI of my own but i'll offer you my musings on the subject. EFI IS the way to go, but it is semi cost prohibitive. Here is a cobbled together parts list:
Manifold
Runners/Throttlebody
Injectors
ECU
Wiring Harness
Sensors
Weld-In fittings for o2 sensor(s)
Fuel pump
Fuel Pressure regulator (Carb= 6PSI, EFI=40PSI+)
Sumped fuel tank (modified or RockValley)

Thats a short list, but these things definately add up. Holley Commander 950 and FAST systems seem to be the way to go,ForceEFI and Hillborn are some others. there is a good EFI forum on www.chevytalk.com (http://www.chevytalk.com) if you dont find what you are looking for here or there..... then its time to start calling manufacturers:)A laptop is also handy for most of these systems.

Hilborn (http://www.hilborninjection.com/category.asp?Id=37)
Force EFI (http://www.force-efi.com/systems.htm)
F.A.S.T. (http://www.fuelairspark.com/Technical/CurrentCatalog/)
Holley (http://www.holley.com/HiOctn/ProdLine/Products/C950/C950.html)

Why not do an EFI 496? The difference in cost between a 468 and a 496 is probably the difference in picking the machine shop lottery on who does the work.
I know we have alot of die hard (and older, no offense) carb guys here, but I grew up understanding cars with EFI. I left the hospital with a carb, but learned engines with EFI.
It is the way to go. Sure, you can make the same power with a well tuned holley, but EFI is generally easier to deal with on an ongoing basis in a high performance application especially when used with forced induction.
Carbs work fine, I'm not carb bashing. But EFI has so many advantages-- and only one disadvantage I can see-- price-- I would not hesitate. In fact, if you were already going to go with an electric fuel pump system, you are one step closer.
The ticket these days-- on new cars from the factory, and on hopped up mustangs and imports is EFI and forced induction. It takes someone with a serious clue to do a blow through carb deal right, and still I'd think it would be such a headache. But I've never owned one.
All I know is that EFI can turn what _was_ a monster of a motor to deal with on the street into something that you turn the key and drive off, still rumblin, still shakin, still burning the tires, but doing it as efficently and easily as possible, it can tame that wild engine but still let it have all its wild horses.... Not to slap the face of the ingenuity of the folks at holley, carter, whomever, but their mechanical device cannot acheive the performance, reliability, repeatability, of a computer controlled device that constantly calculates and adjusts.
If you like the look of it, don't mind paying for it, I say do it. I don't think you would see any performance gain but I bet you would _love_ the engine.
They don't stuff 400hp (SAE) pushrod v8's into cadillacs with carbs on them in 2004, and there is a good reason for that.
And if anyone caught the glimpse in auto weekly or whatever it is of the limited edition 600hp CTS-V "R" which is rumored to be a blown or turbo'd version of the regular engine, I doubt it would meet the standards of anyone for driveability and reliablility if it were carb'd.
I like my car, I like my Holley, I love to see the gas shoot into the air stream when I have the air filter off, but I also wonder why my 454 gets 6mpg or less..

Just a bunch of my .02's. Would you try using doing the best that you possibly can with a 30 year old computer? Nope-- but you are with a 30 year old carb. We have a 50+" magnetic material coated disk with a hub on it that looks like an axle mounting point from the early 70's that held 1mb of data and cost more than 1 million in the early 1970's.. Now its a decoration in my dads office.

No offense intended to anyone.
I also think when considering potential performance gains on an EFI setup that you consult with someone who knows what they are doing, EFI's can utilize a different intake runner length than a carb at maximal efficency, so sometimes I question the utility of drilling and fitting a carb manifold for EFI except for the function of sheer driveability. Done right, I do believe EFI does outpower a holley, but in the average setup, its just driveability and increased compatability with forced induction.

Matt

If it fits the budget you cannot beat EFI for tuneability and mileage.

http://www.camcojb.com/zl1index/zl1motornoblower.jpg

Jody

Got some car cleaning tips I was left out on?

I have been on and off the EFI debate for years now.. I want to, but I don't.. but yours barely looks like EFI.. which is a big cool.. but then again.. the whole intake runner length thing?

I'd do it, but if I did, I'd probably stuff my cam back in at 110 and use Harolds grind, not some imitation...

Matt

Originally posted by camcojb:
If it fits the budget you cannot beat EFI for tuneability and mileage.

http://www.camcojb.com/zl1index/zl1motornoblower.jpg

Jody Jody- That looks AWESOME! Kinda like the way I've envisioned mine.What ECM are you using and who did the fuel rails??? graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Originally posted by camcojb:
[QB] If it fits the budget you cannot beat EFI for tuneability and mileage.
Jody
That's the problem though,Jody. Not many of us have your budget. A good EFI set-up would cost almost as much as I have invested in my 427/T56 combo. I also do not have the skills to install and tune one of these units so I would have to find someone qualified,,more big bucks.

"That's the problem though,Jody. Not many of us have your budget. A good EFI set-up would cost almost as much as I have invested in my 427/T56 combo. I also do not have the skills to install and tune one of these units so I would have to find someone qualified,,more big bucks."


I understand Clint. It is pricey but hard to beat for tuneability. Fortunately I do my own installs and tuning so that makes it possible.

I used the FAST EFI on this one and had Force Fuel Injection modify the Vic Jr. and set up the fuel rails.

Jody

I have FAST EFI on my Pontiac and am pleased with it. Wilson Manifolds in FL did the intake work and fabbed the fuel rails. Wish I could find a pic but I'm at work right now.

And here I thought I was gonna be Billy Bad A$$ with my projection setup. That setup you have Jody is just plain sick. :eek: graemlins/thumbsup.gif

I just noticed the stk windshield washer reservoir converted over for the radiator catch tank......Pretty cool. graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Thanks guys! Too bad that one is long gone. It is having some changes made by the new owner and will have the changes featured in Super Chevy.

Jody

It sounds like a load of fun and looks so nice! So expensive though. I'm still going to price things. I'll build my block and get the machine work done first get everything together and then make a decision. That camaro is just pure evil I love whats under the hood :D

Why not do an OEM EFI setup? There are many V8's that came from the factory w/EFI, and there are many places on the web where the GM ECM's have been hacked/cracked. There is a lot of software available (free or pay) for tuning/modifying.