EFI

[Deano]

Just wondering if anyone is running fuel injection on their rides. Been having a helluva time with *every* carb I've tried to run. Been thinking about a Sniper 2300 kit. Don't want a four barrel and have to buy an intake. Just want to get in, turn the key, take off, and not worry if I'm going to make it home.

 

[AMC Diplomat]

you might have something else going on that throwing EFI at won't help.

 

[SRTMirada]

IMO the biggest headache with installing fuel injection is the fuel tank. You need to do something so that when you go around a corner with less than half of a tank the engine doesn't stall.

 

[AHBguru]

It was either Holley or Edelbrock that makes a BBD - style TBI kit, that would seem to work well with an F/M/J.

The ironic thing about this is that many of the same enthusiasts who crap on the Lean Burn system want to run EFI. The '85-'89 version of the Electronic Fuel/Spark Control system is actually very close to what TBI is, especially the E4ME Quadrajet in the Pursuit models.

 

[6PKRTSE]

We build & run hundreds of EFI kits across our dyno's every year. From FAST, Holley, MSD, Fitech etc.They all have their quirks/issues and luckily we stock enough parts to always swap out a defective or failed components until we can get either of the suppliers to send us replacement parts to replace what we swapped out.

 

[Duke5A]

EFI isn't going to fix anything over a properly functioning 2bbl. If you want EFI for the creature comforts, then go for it, but your deciding factor shouldn't be having a driving car.

I'm using a Sniper in my car and I'm happy. As noted the fuel tank is the biggest obstacle. These tanks are shallow and makes converting to an internal pump a pain in the ass. You can run an external pump, but utilizing the factory sending unit will cause the pickup to suck to air when the tank is a quarter full going around turns. When I first put the system on I used an external pump and had these issue.

You're also going to need to replace the fuel lines leading up to the front of the car. There is a couple of sections in the line where it goes from steel to rubber. You'll need 5/16" tube continuous all the way - supply and return.

You're going to be $2k into this before it's done. If the benefits are worth the expense, then sure, but I would just fix what you have.

 

[AMC Diplomat]

It was either Holley or Edelbrock that makes a BBD - style TBI kit, that would seem to work well with an F/M/J.

The ironic thing about this is that many of the same enthusiasts who crap on the Lean Burn system want to run EFI. The '85-'89 version of the Electronic Fuel/Spark Control system is actually very close to what TBI is, especially the E4ME Quadrajet in the Pursuit models.

I'm still running the "lean burn" and after fiddling with it every which way, it runs ok... for a 40 year old POS 318 with over 200k miles

 

[69-]

And a carb could be cleaned up out in the field, with a broken efi you're basically dead in the water without replacement parts.
Running the lean burn in the 79 LeBaron, no issues. If so, with a small HEI module and some wires and connectors I would be back on the road, at least limping home safely. Add a cheap electric fuel pump and you're good to go even with a broken mechanical fuel pump. Invest: like 20 bucks? Plus a replacement coil, sure.

 

[Camtron]

Have ran a 625cfm Demon carb since 2019 and haven’t had any fuel issue when it’s 100 degrees+ with 75% humidity or when it’s well below freezing. But if you happen to be having ignition, compression, fuel pump issues, ect…it wouldn’t help too much.

 

[SonOfaTomP]

i had bought a 2300 kit that i had plans to install. never went through with it and we went the way of ebay china carburetor and lean burn delete. set has been sitting on a shelf for a year now.

most of my break downs have been electrical system related even after the lean burn delete. these things love loosing spark.

i'll sell you my 2300 kit if you want

 

[AHBguru]

And a carb could be cleaned up out in the field, with a broken efi you're basically dead in the water without replacement parts.
Running the lean burn in the 79 LeBaron, no issues. If so, with a small HEI module and some wires and connectors I would be back on the road, at least limping home safely. Add a cheap electric fuel pump and you're good to go even with a broken mechanical fuel pump. Invest: like 20 bucks? Plus a replacement coil, sure.

Definitely a primary concern with virtually any aftermarket modification. If something goes belly up, call the hook. At least with Lean Burn or Chrysler electronic ignition, you can generally cobble it up to get it home. Even then, a spare new fuel pump and good computer (or ballast resistor for elec ign) are good items to carry with.

As bad as that sounds, look at all of the trouble they're having with newer vehicles today. Carrying a couple of spare parts is cheap insurance..

 

[Mikes5thAve]

I've only had one computer fail and it was an actual lean burn one with the ballast, which also failed at one point. I've never had a spark control or fuel control one cause issues. Part of the problem with those ones, especially the feedback ones, is they rely on a few sensors and they base everything on the timing and carb being adjusted properly. If something is off it's off and people are fast to blame the computer.

 

[AHBguru]

I've only had one computer fail and it was an actual lean burn one with the ballast, which also failed at one point. I've never had a spark control or fuel control one cause issues. Part of the problem with those ones, especially the feedback ones, is they rely on a few sensors and they base everything on the timing and carb being adjusted properly. If something is off it's off and people are fast to blame the computer.

I never had one fail. I've had electronic ignition control units poop the bed, plenty of ballast resistors, etc.

I do recall having to replace one 02 sensor on an '85, and one air charge temp sensor.on an '89. But timing and choke adjustments were the two biggest offenders. That and/or vacuum leaks, bad secondary wires/plugs, low voltage issues, carb (usually float), fuel system (weak fuel pump or vapor-lock).

Sometime around '86 or '87, Chrysler had a fleet service bulletin floating around that indicated 95% of the problems attributed to Lean Burn were all of these other problems, and most of those false reports came from dealership mechanics. The line techs just didn't want to deal with the level of diagnosis required to properly fix those cars. I recall my local dealer in the 80s had a SCC analyzer just gathering dust in the corner of the shop. Today, that analyzer has become the OBD scan tool.

 

[Mikes5thAve]

I never had one fail. I've had electronic ignition control units poop the bed, plenty of ballast resistors, etc.

I do recall having to replace one 02 sensor on an '85, and one air charge temp sensor.on an '89. But timing and choke adjustments were the two biggest offenders. That and/or vacuum leaks, bad secondary wires/plugs, low voltage issues, carb (usually float), fuel system (weak fuel pump or vapor-lock).

Sometime around '86 or '87, Chrysler had a fleet service bulletin floating around that indicated 95% of the problems attributed to Lean Burn were all of these other problems, and most of those false reports came from dealership mechanics. The line techs just didn't want to deal with the level of diagnosis required to properly fix those cars. I recall my local dealer in the 80s had a SCC analyzer just gathering dust in the corner of the shop. Today, that analyzer has become the OBD scan tool.

The exact parameters changed almost every year but there was a really simple procedure in the service manual to test the computer without any special equipment. If it hit certain readings at certain intervals and conditions it was good, if it didn't hit the range or it was too fast or slow getting there it was replacement time.

When my 1979 one went it advanced the timing and started pinging constantly.