My motor combo is in my sig. I would love to use somebody else s credit card and just order the $4500 Fast XFI set up up BUT good god, I just paid less than that for a 10 second motorcycle!

What is available for used? I know the FAST stuff is to new and popular, so what else is there that is good?

This won't answer your question, but a decent bit of knowledge, a bridgeport, and some scavenging, and you can do a lot yourself.

The key is knowing what low cost things work well, what don't as well as what costs a lot that isn't needed.

I always make my own intake hardware up myself.

The HP you're making will work with a low cost 255 LPH Walbro pump.

You can spend a lot for things that "look nice", or spend less for stuff that gets the job done.

With the engine you have, you'll want something laptop programmable.

With any EFI, tuning is the key, and that is one thing you don't want to waste money throwing at it. Either learn it yourself, or have a friend that can do it.

It isn't terribly hard if you have the desire to learn.

in my opinion for what your doing a well tuned carb is very hard to beat. unless you just want fi you can go as fast if not faster as well as good drivability. save your money

in my opinion for what your doing a well tuned carb is very hard to beat. unless you just want fi you can go as fast if not faster as well as good drivability. save your money

Good input, that would be the question, exactly why do you want to go EFI? First question I ask someone before I recommend the head down that path.

I'm going EFI for just no hassel Hi Per driver, I got lucky and found a used set up. Start by hitting ALL of the web sites that have loads of EFI cars.

Why not a used factory GM setup and software to do the tuning?

Why not a used factory GM setup and software to do the tuning?

What system specifically are you referring to?

Andrew

IMHO the only factory EFI set up to run would be an LSx on an LSx or LT1 on a SBC..

other than than.. aftermarket.

aaron

Go to the boneyard and scavenge any of these direct-port EFI systems:

GM V8 Gen III :
98-02 Firebird/Camaro 5.7
97-04 Chevy Corvette 5.7
99-07 Chevy Silverado / GMC Sierra

GM V8 Gen IV :
05-09 Chevy Corvette
05-09 Chevy Corvette
07-09 Chevy Silverado / GMC Sierra

GM V8 Vortec :
98-00 Chevy Silverado / GMC Sierra

And then get one of the good tuning programs like HPtuners, EFILive, LS1-edit, etc...
Might get lucky and have a canned tune someone has already done as a starting point or may just have to play around awhile to get it dialed in.

Go to the boneyard and scavenge any of these direct-port EFI systems:

GM V8 Gen III :
98-02 Firebird/Camaro 5.7
97-04 Chevy Corvette 5.7
99-07 Chevy Silverado / GMC Sierra

GM V8 Gen IV :
05-09 Chevy Corvette
05-09 Chevy Corvette
07-09 Chevy Silverado / GMC Sierra

GM V8 Vortec :
98-00 Chevy Silverado / GMC Sierra

And then get one of the good tuning programs like HPtuners, EFILive, LS1-edit, etc...
Might get lucky and have a canned tune someone has already done as a starting point or may just have to play around awhile to get it dialed in.

I am sorry but there is way more to it than that. There are issues with hardware compatibility, manifolds, sensors, etc. It can certainly be done, but the average user does not have the ability to add a cam sensor, crank reluctor wheel, etc...

Andrew

Sorry guys I have been working 12s and not checked in here. My 2 year plan is to get use to low 10s next year on spray and then go turbo so I canrun small cam and lower gears and have a streetable low 9 car. It looks like I might want to just sell this Sbc and get a Ls1 for the turbo efi setup?

Another thought or general concept to add to the mix...

In the realm of EFI there is a spectrum of systems with one end being relatively inexpensive and the other much more expensive. Mr. Obvious there :D What is less obvious is that most all can be made to work successfully dependent upon how much knowledge the user either has or is willing to acquire.

Taking a fairly extreme example on the low cost/high knowledge end of the spectrum consider MegaSquirt. Here is an EFI controller that is arguably one of most inexpensive on the market. Go basic fuel only and build it yourself for about $140 or step up to full fuel and ignition control and build it yourself for about $250. This system is very capable but you have to know or figure out what you are doing. Much to learn here (but much is published so you are enabled to learn).

The more expensive systems are quite a bit more thought out and put together for you than this. And you pay for that service. The companies invest time and $$$ into making the system easier and simpler for you to use. And you fairly compensate them for that. They also come with an expectation that they will work and that the company will support and stand behind them if they do not. This would be an unmanageable problem for the company if they did not put some bounds on things. So they do not tell you everything about the innerds of their product. You are somewhat dependent upon their knowledge to get the job done. And you fairly compensate them for that too to some extent when you hand it to a tuner.

So these kinds of questions really come down not only to what do you want do with the car but how much knowledge do you have on EFI and how much learning are you willing to do? What kind of balance do you seek between investing time or $$$ in learning versus investing $$$ for a pre-built solution?

you can do a factory 6.0 for what it would cost to convert your sbc to efi

you can do a factory 6.0 for what it would cost to convert your sbc to efi

Exactly! As soon as you consider EFI, you should be considering doing an LSx swap.

Andrew

OK that is what I will do. LS it is.

OK that is what I will do. LS it is.

http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=276850&highlight=turbo

Andrew

I thought about going LSX power and EFI but you know the motor mounts trans adapters different headers pulley systems and oil pan swaps. Then the tuning etc. There are things like if you havve an LS1 vs 5.3/6.0/6.2/ that get into some unique stuff like the relucter wheel is it 24x vs 50 something and there are several head port options ,better throttle bodies, injectors, wiring harness, drive by wire or cable getting expensive fast.

I liked the idea of I think LS3 type or the 6.0 version of the LS3 with a 6 speed auto trans sounded fun but what MAST and others get for the harness is $1000 plus.

You can get the LS1 computer to run a standard small block with the Vortec front cover and http://www.eficonnection.com/eficonnection/12200411.aspx a reluctor wheel for the crank.

I all ready have a fresh small block 400 built up with hyd roller cam, forged bottom, Dart Pro 1 215 heads and I'm going to EFI because it is all ready a hot nice engine with low miles on my build but I want the drive-ability and reliabilty of EFI.

for 3K i'll have that out of the box pretty much from Edelbrock.

Just my 2 cents.

Have you thought about using 1 or 2 gm throttle bodys like an 86-87 tbi unit with a wire harness from howell industrys.I put 2 ontop a 871 supercharged 427 and the car runs great,very streetable and runs 11.001 in street trim at a weight of 4044lbs.OH it was really cheap!

I bought that kit...not very pleased so far with the quirks that FAST has with their products.

Jason, got any detail on that? computer, software, electrical problems or issues with the injector unit itself?

Figured I'd add my two cents to this.

Cheapest system to control an EFI street/strip small block that wont limit power is the 86-92 GM TPI style systems using aftermarket intake setups.

Factory 86-89 TPI FBODY and YBODY cars used a mass air flow sensor and whats commonly called the '165 ecm which is short-hand for the actual GM part number but it ends in 165 as last 3 digits. Mass air is easy to tune but the big component cost is finding a working good condition MAF sensor. THey can be found but price will vary from like 40 bucks to 200 depending on who is selling. The ecm can be had for 20 bucks to 50 bucks depending. You will need a factory prom/chip for it as well, doesnt matter if you get a 305 or 350 version but it needs to be from a TPI car. Wiring harness i'd go painless wiring and get the basic kit since this is going into a chevelle that wont need all the 3rd gen fbody stuff, but you can use a factory GM harness and delete the rest.

The MAF is used to measure airflow and calculate fuel based on that airflow. The stock MAF has a limited flow range but if you max it out, you can easily add fuel in whats called Power Enrichment vs RPM. Just a table in the chip code that you can add more fuel. Alot of tuning info can be found on thirdgen.org since thats the origins of the system.

I've used it on my 383 small block using a holley stealth ram intake. Made 400whp and ran 11.4's at 118-119mph in July summer heat in a 3450lb raceweight 89 Iroc-z.

The other system you can use is the 90-92 stuff which is speed density. GM ecm '730. It uses manifold absolute pressure, MAP, to calculate fueling. Its abit more difficult to dial in but works great. Plus you can adapt it to handle boosted applications up to 3 bar! More on that in a second.

ECM price is anywhere from 20-50 bucks agan, but the biggest drawback is you need a prom/chip/memcal package from a stock TPI car and those are harder to find. GM doesnt make the 350 version anymore, but a 305 can work. if you can find a used one, 20-30 bucks or so wouldnt be bad for a 305 one. 350 ones can range from 50 to 200 or so depending on who is selling it and what version it is as there are differences but ANY will work just fine for EFI conversion. Get a painless wiring harness. All the sensors needed can be had from tpiparts.net and some other places.

For wiring harness you will want to have the ALDL diagnostics port from a thirdgen fbody and the wiring for that so you can read the ECM for tuning.

Tuning gear can be had from moates.net. you need a chip burner/programmer which is 80-90 bucks, ALDL cable for about 80, and the tuning software will be included with the burner. Its called Tunerpro RT and there is a 30 dollar registration fee they want you to pay but I havent and it still works fine.

Thats all you need to tune it really. Lots of little details that need explained like 87-up style distributor and all the small sensors i didnt list or go over, but thats the overview.

For boosted applications you can run 730 ecm with a certain program code that you can download for free that will handle 3bar map. I am using this setup on my 3rd gen camaro with a 401" small block running twin turbos, victor E EFI manifold, LS1 throttlebody and 14psi boost right now. All pump gas, its made over 640whp on just 12psi through very loose converter. It has run 9.8's at over 140mph in the 1/4 at 3550lb raceweight estimated. I used my stock 89 MAF harness converted over to run MAP sensor 730 ecm. 30 bucks for ecm, 65 for the prom/chip, 240 or so in tuning materials, some money in small sensors/misc.

Cheap, reliable, and Fast, you can have all 3