Fuel injecting a Big Block, Options?

[72 Cheyenne402]

I am thinking about fuel injecting my 402. Has anybody done this lately and What are my options? Would I lose any performance by doing this and what is the costs of fuel injecting? I would like to have a fuel injection system on my truck that is easy to maintain and adjust? Any Idea?

[snj8198]

I have Edelbrock's Pro Flo system on my 496. What do ya want to know?

[72 Cheyenne402]

Is it cost effective to have fuel injection on these old trucks and does it really make them a little more reliable. I had a Holly 750 Vac secondary and could not keep it running. I had a big problem with trash in the neddle seats which led to a fuel tank rust problem.
Is the fuel injection easier to adjust? What are the advantages?

[snj8198]

check out the carb vs FI thread in engines and drivetrain. i posted what i've experienced there. let me know.

[jhow66]

Try this:
http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/te...uel_injection/

[stllookn]

Anybody seen their fuel mileage increase with this system. I know it is not ALL about fuel mileage but at least that lowers the pain of the price. Otherwise, as much as I will be driving my 454, it will make no difference...you can buy lots of carbs for $3000!

[snj8198]

yeah, the fuel mileage increase is not as significant as they claim.

[jhow66]

Like the old saying-if you want to play you have to pay.

[mnunn454]

You can replace a lot of carbs, fuel filters and tanks for $3000.

I think all the extra hardware (fuel rails, injectors, wires etc.) detracts from the normally clean and simple look of a performance engine.

If you don't already have them you'll likely need to purchase some electronic help tools and books to tune, and diagnose problems.

Carb setups have fewer and less expensive things to break/go wrong.

WOT Performance of a well tuned carb is about the same as an EFI setup

That said, I do think low end and part throttle driveability should be better with EFI. If you're looking for a crank-and-go cruiser and the electronics challenges don't dissuade you this might be a decent alternative.

Back to carbs, CHP magazine (I think) had an article about a year ago about how to tune a Holley/Demon style carb for excellent highway mileage (it rivaled EFI MPG). Once your dirt in the fuel problems are fixed, that'd be my next area to optimize.

JMO.

[jhow66]

Read the whole article on this new setup. No tuning needed. Agree on price but if you want a EFI system, this seems to be the way to go.

[mnunn454]

Originally Posted by jhow66

Read the whole article on this new setup. No tuning needed.....

Sorry. I don't believe it. The system may run fine (acceptably) right out of the box, but to tune for either peak performance or mileage will require the extra tools. Also, as soon as something goes South (like an O2 sensor, plugged injector, or an indavertently crimped wire) performance will be off and you'll now be in the same boat, needing the same tools as above.

Don't get me wrong. Technology adds a lot of options and creature comforts. However it's not a free lunch.

All I'm saying is the $3K up front cost is only the beginning of the $ investment. And in my opinion, spending 1/3 of that or less on a new fuel system and carb would be a much wiser investment yielding about the same performance and reliability.

My 2 cents.

[Already Gone]

Have you thought of going with Barry Grants' Demon Carb 3 deuce setup. It costs about the same as EFI but once set up properly I think you'd have better fuel econonmy when cruising and a lot of "Ow Wow" factor when you lifted the hood.

[jkade]

I had this on my bbc but I took it off in favor of a GENIII small block with the factory efi. Big waste of money if you ask me. For what you will spend you could put a GenIII in your truck and it would way out perform the 402. Trust me because I am doing just what you are wanting with the same motor.