The 4 bbl style throttle bodies bolt on nicely but they're harder to make a nice tubing connection from an intercooler. I don't like the hats that bolt down with the carb stud. That's the reason basically every EFI turbo car you see has a round throttle body. Here's a pic of a conversion intake I did a while back using a Weiand Buick V6 single plane intake. The plenum and throttle body are stock turbo V6 parts; I cut the bottom off of the doghouse and welded it to a 1" carb spacer. Might be hard to see but under the tape on the runners are injector openings; I welded flat stock onto the runners and machined the injector bungs on a CNC.
A properly done EFI takes one of two things: 1. Lots of cash 2. Lots of time and know how. For my twin turbo 350 I was able to build a custom EFI system that features Multi Port Injectors for about $1500 and using a megaquirt computer. Due to the complexity of the system I ended up going with a Holley carb with mods for blow through. I am still using the megasquirt computer to control the timing, and datalog: -throttle position -intake temps, -coolant temps, -air/fuel ratios, ect. I can tune the carb using this info I datalog from racing and street use. A jetting kit and some time and I have a simple reliable carb setup that works for me. In between I bought a 4 Barrel Throttle Body EFI system that was about $1500 new ($800 used), however opted against it and went with the carb again to gain reliability and simplicty. The way I see it, either go full out with a high end EFI system that costs thousands or just stay with a carb. Trying to do a budget EFI system is not easy unless you have the skill, time and know how to make it all work. The people with these traits are ahead of the game! Heck that junkyard stock SBC that I showed earlier in the thread, made about 900 HP through a GM TPI intake run off a megasquirt. The guys knew how to tune it and it made great power and lasted. The same has been done and continues to be done with carbs, guys are making 1900 HP through 750 CFM carbs under boost so it can be done either way. This company here will retrofit any intake you send them for $200 added onto the price of this kit here. So I would send a TA intake to them: http://www.massfloefi.com/mass-flo-efi-systems/buick/buick-350-efi-system.html
Cason, my posts in the past should hardly be the benchmarks for car building. I am usually too short on time, money, or both to just jump in and get it done. The other factor in my build is that I keep making major changes, nearly every season, requiring more tuning. For me it is a constant evolution, at a snails pace. I haven't even had the chance to start the Buicks engine for over a month, and yes, it is currently running great. If turbos and engines were such a horrible match, there wouldn't be any factory turbo cars and trucks out, and yes, many of them are out there daily driving. Why no Buick 350's? My guess is cost and fuel consumption. It takes a substantial amount of time, or money, or both, to get any modified car to be tuned in great for daily use. That's why most folks tinker on their hot rods, and drive something else to work. If we could all afford to go with self tuning EFI, and all the best parts, there would be a LOT more hot rods on the street daily, turbos or otherwise. My point is, turbos have nothing to do with an engine being suitable for daily use. Like any custom built combo, the tune has to be decent, not perfect, and the owner has to be willing to pay for the gas.
Just came across this thread. But ill be having a twinturbo efi 350 done at some point. I'm using holey efi. Via the retro kit..but had to buy. Ross racing steel injector bungs for my x factor sheet metal intake. Made by our buddy mark. Hopeing to get the modded. Xfactor intake back this week or next....if I were to do it again. Id get mark to make me an efi cross ram intake like carbon xr intake for the lsx engine. http://performancedesignllc.com/xr/ ---------- Post added at 10:39 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:12 PM ---------- Ps if you want it on the road quicker.. blow through carb..if your not good with tuning a carb or want presice control efi is where its at..but easily double the cost over the bt carb.
I've been wanting another turbo car so bad I've almost considered selling my `65 and buying another Turbo Regal like the one I had new in `87. Probably, won't though. I have been doing some research on them and this is a great site for info. It also has a very detailed thread about converting a carb to blow through. http://www.theturboforums.com/
