I am getting ready to swap my I6 for a 302. Is Efi better than a carb because thats whats on the motor. Also how hard is it to hook up an Efi.
Carb is only better for Nascar and Drag...IMO Do a search on top, there are plenty of EFI conversions done.
EFI would be the way to go but there is a lot to getting EFI working in an old car. It will definitely be more costly, unless you have all the wiring harness, computer, and sensors. Plus you need to totally redo your fuel line system. EFI is higher pressure and needs a return line.
The Painless Wiring harness kit is affordable and easy to install. Fuel system requires a return line plumbed in. Not a technological nightmare by any means but it will require some knowledge and mechanical ability. I say go for it.
Now that I have mine EFI, I won't go back to carb. If I had it to do over again, I believe I would go with carb - just for simplicity's sake. re: Maverick75's satement, "Carb is only better for Nascar and Drag..." That's really a matter of opinion (IMO ). I chose EFI especially for use in drag racing. I chose to allow the sensors and the computer to help my car be more consistant (that's not to say that you can't be consitant with carbs). I'd much rather let the sensors and EEC do their job rather than me guessing which jet size(s) to change to when the temperature/humidity/barometric pressure, etc., change (for consitancy's sake). Also, that's not to say that EFI's are necessarily faster than carb - or vice versa. I believe the carbs have more potential to be faster - not necessarily across-the-board faster. If you have access to your donor car's wiring harness, computer, etc., it'll be much cheaper than buying the Painless Wiring Harness (~$500 the last time I checked), but you'll have GOBS of wiring to remove (or simply not use) from the donor package. I was on a budget so I had to use my donor car's computer and wiring harness (zero dollars) and remove 75% of the wiring from the wiring "bundle". Since the donor motor is already EFI, you've overcome some expenses already (upper and lower intakes, MAF, TPS, IAC, Injectors, Throttle Body, etc., and other sensors that you'd need to swap from carb to EFI). Conversely, if you want to go carbed, you'll need to buy an intake and carb only - which, depending on what kind of horsepower you want, can get expensive too, but a lot less headache up front. I believe it all boils down how much time, effort, and money you're willing to put into your car (carb=simple, EFI=not so simple) and, what you prefer. A lot depends on your experience in dealing with EFI also. There are a couple of guys on here who, because of their experience, had very few problems going to EFI (I wasn't one of them ). edit: after re-reading my post, "Bahhh. Toss a coin and don't look back!" Good luck either way.
I think Rick said it best: carb=simple, EFI=not so simple. For manufacturers EFI makes sense with today's emissions and fuel economy standards, but for hobbyists it is hard to say whether EFI or a carb is "better". Each choice has advantages and disadvantages. I started tinkering with EFI on my '77 Maverick back in 1992 when my favorite junkyard finally started getting cars in with it. It was tougher back then because there wasn't aftermarket support for parts and Internet support for info like there is today. I happen to like reverse-engineering things to figure out how to make it work and soldering wires so I didn't really think twice about it. I also had access to wiring diagrams and troubleshooting procedures (I live near Detroit and my dad worked for GM then and had access to all kinds of Big Three info like that) so that made things easier. I remember how amazed I was when I got the car running. I live for stuff like that. That's probably what you have do decide...do you enjoy looking over wiring diagrams and soldering wires enough to spend time on an EFI conversion. With a donor car you are more than half the way there, but there will still be an investment of time, effort and $$ to get it all working. If you decide to go EFI there are plenty of us on here who can give advice if you get stuck on something.
you need to have know how to work/ install a EFI system in an old car !! the charging system also needs to be addressed !! In my case I did not have a complete EFI eng. !! so I installed a RPM intake, E-303 cam and assoc. hardware,hookers,holley 600,ect... I'm happy as hell with the set-up and it goes romp-romp-rompity-romp all day !!!!!!!
See related posts regarding MavMark's (most excellent) EFI Adventure: http://mmb.maverick.to/showthread.php?t=11717 and EVIMAV's (most excellent) post: http://mmb.maverick.to/showthread.php?t=902
I've been enjoying my EFI Mav for many years now and wouldn't go back. The conversion process was time consuming but not rocket science. I would definitely recommend having the entire donor car available during the course of the conversion to make sure you have all parts needed. As MavMark said, it is very useful to have the wiring diagrams for both cars so that you can integrate the new with the old, plus you have to know how to read them. It is a challenging project but well worth the effort. Sam
http://fordfuelinjection.com/?p=1 THE best site for EEC IV (5.0 EFI stuff) on the net. Plus, they sell all the hardware you need and make it pretty idiot proof. The hardest part I've come across so far is how to mount the in-tank pump since that's the way I decided to go. An external pump would be much easier, but louder and maybe not quite as reliable. Did everyone here use an external pump?
