I'm seriously thinking about trying to adapt some sort of fuel injection to my 425. Has anybody ever tried this? I have seen a 6x2 setup using stromberg 97's as throttle bodies, but I didn't like the $2k+ price. The new issue of hot rod mag has an article about a hidden injection setup on a hemi. I like the looks of it. 2x4's, hollowed out to make throttle bodies. The only clue as to injection was the throttle position sensor between the carbs and the intake air temperature sensor on the front. Let's hear your ideas and see some pictures if you have any. Thanks for your help.
I want to set up EFI for my engine as well. I kind of thought that maybe a later BB chevy truck injection might be cool as it has the injectors in the main plenumn sorta like throttle body injection. At least that's what I'm told, I haven't looked at one yet, but according to what I've heard, it should be a relatively easy adaptation. You could also use one of the 4L80E 4 speed auto trannies as well since it is controlled by the same computer if you wanted to. The other option would be to adapt some kind of port injection set up. With some changes to injectors and fuel pressures, nearly any GM TPI could be adapted to a large engine. They are plentiful in the junkyards and pretty darn inexpensive and reliable. Would be harder to make that type inconspicuous though as you have a fuel rail and injectors to mount. I was kinda wondering how hard it would be to make a sheet metal intake with DPI. Or you use a stand alone ECU like a used Tech II or new TechIII and take advantage of the extra functions (should you want to set rev limits or boost control, etc) and crank trigger ignition.:laugh: You'd still need all the other hardware like injectors, pump, etc which could be harvested at the wreckers as well. I'm all about setting up EFI as soon as I can get it together.
If you can't go port injection (tough with a cast iron intake), you can get 98% of the way there by putting a TBI setup on. I think Barry Grant sells a TBI unit that "looks" like a carb (in fact I think they took a carb and modified it, pretty slick). Then to control it, I would use the FAST. Add a few sensors (engine temp, air temp, Oxygen sensor, etc.) and reconfigure the distributor to work with the computer, and you're done. If you want to keep the distributor and feel a bit daring, there is a DIY controller available for just a few hundred bucks. -Bob Cunningham
Bob, I really don't think a port setup would be that difficult with the right machinest. Granted, getting the injector bungs to stay in might be a task! A good aluminium intake and TIG welder should do the trick. Personally, I'm good at fabricating stuff, but not that good! I was curious if any body had a near bolt on kit or a kit that could be modified. I will look into the Barry Grant setup, and the BBC setup also. It might not be as hard as I think.
With an aluminum intake, no problem. That's what is on my car, except I don't have a nailhead. I didn't know if anyone made an aluminum intake for the nailhead, which is why I suggested the TBI. If you have a single-plane aluminum intake, you can send it to Force Fuel Injection (www.force-efi.com) and they will do all the work. That's what I did. But honestly I think that TBI is a lot simpler, and I don't think you're really going to lose much performance. And now I remember the name of the DIY controller, it's called the Megasquirt. -Bob C.
I signed up on the mailing list a long time ago for the next run on Megasquirt boards and never heard anything. Is anything still being done with them? http://www.bgsoflex.com/megasquirt.html
Didn't Edelbrock or somebody have aluminum intakes for the nailhead? That would be easy to modify. I'll bet a BBC set-up would work pretty well. With an air cleaner on it would look stock. I was thinking of a tunnel ram type sheet metal intake with inboard injectors and fuel rails down the middle under the plenumn. I got a tall engine compartment though.
GM TBI I have wondered for some time about using the tbi set up from the chevy's. I bet a suitable bottom manifold setup could be made to adapt them to the nailhead. I always think things are easy till I do them but this is one of those things I can't let go of. I am getting a bit tired of fiddeling with the holley's.
I heard that there actually is a Chevt TBI that has a q-jet style bolt pattern, so it would be the same as running a carb. With a little tuning, a system desgined for the 454 shouldn't have too much trouble feeding a stock or mildly modified nailhead, should it ? Plus, if you run the (extra) wires and lines cleanly, it would look a lot more stock than a mulit-port system. The Barry Grant system is anothe option. I believe they call it Venturi Fuel Injection and according to HRM, it performs like any performance carb, but with the benefits of EFI. It's designed for a sqarebore manifold, so I assume it would replace an AFB without any trouble (excpet maybe opening up the four-holes). The only downside to this systme is that it's probably not worth the money, unless you just wanted a trick EFI system.
Hmmm, that barry grant system look like somethin I could use. I really wanted a port style system, but, a TBI system could do. My caprice has TBI and I am happy with it. Hop over there and look at their support. they have section on "tuning with spacers". You could put the TBI on and then use various sapcers to get a good low end and good top end also! Very promising!
Only a dual Quad (the B262). There are rumblings about a new casting being looked into but as yet no progress reports have been received.
There'a place called Ron's Racing Products out of Tucson that specialises in FI setups on non-FI vehicles. The last time I spoke to them I had minimal funds, but they said the nailhead or 455 would be a cinch. I don't know if it's still in business, but their number is 602-624-8780. Hope this helps. Dan
What about converting a Hilborn mechanical fuelie setup to efi?? This would eliminate the need to fabricate a manifolds etc.
Nailhead sled, That setup would be awesome if I had a deuce or something I could run with the hood off. I really don't think my Merc would look good with the hood off. Viva la HAMB!
another thought I was browsing the latest Drive magazine and noticed a Throttle body type "Stromberg 97" being made by Moon here in california. The venturis are gone and the injectors are hidden in the fuel bowl. I bet a triplet of these on an old tri power manifold would be pretty cool. I don't know the flow yet but I am going to look into it. They look stock as all of the wires are hidden too.
Blower Drive Service, here in Whittier, sells EFI nozzles that are threaded, on one or both ends. This allows the user to set them in place with sealer and run into metals not easily welded to. Now, if that bunch of miscreants can find a thread die that will cut a nozzle to do that, it shouldn't be too hard to find the very same thing, I'd figure they just figured out the right thread to use and got one from as place I get my stuff, big equipment house called McMaster-Carr. I'll be there in about two hours, getting some button head Alen scrrews. A lathe and some ingenuity will make the feed ends out of aluminum, hose it from there. That said, is there room anough on a Nailhead to put the nozzles into the heads from the SIDE, as in UNDER the intake manifold and above the valley cover? If so, then the air controller can literally be a single four barrell carb that has been sealed and gutted. I run a Rover TPI manifold with 8 port injectors, processed from an old Holley Pro-Jection two barrell throttle body controller, works great.
Ignition Man, you mentioned Rover. I've heard that the rover's are basically nailheads. I'd like to see a pic of your setup. This months Hot Rod Magazing has a 4bbl carb as a TB. That's what got this whole thing started.
Nope, nowhere near a Nailhead design, more like a shallow Hemi than a wedge, like the V6 stocker heads. I may just have to take a couple of pics of the mockup engine, it has the basic EFI manifold on it.
