If you didn't have a chance to read the latest National Dragster, please do. The last page has an article written by Warren Johnson on the status of Pro Stock and fuel injection. This is somewhat of a rehash but it goes right to the heart of the matter. WJ puts some serious smack on the NHRA for prohibiting EFI. His points are well structured and so very true. Ironically, as I read this I thought how similar the situation is for our V8 Buick community. We continue to dabble into the survival of the 455 with new blocks, new technology, new heads, new this and new that...... then top it off with a carburetor. Isn't it about time someone steps up in the Buick market with an EFI system that is user friendly, cost effective, and WORKS. If Buick can make it work on the V6, whats two more cylinders.....EH! Perhaps, when the NHRA does switch to EFI for Pro Stock, the market will open up with a greater variety of aftermarket choices.
I've been using EFI since 1993 on my 455. TBI until 2000 (the ProJection), then I switched to port FI. You can buy an intake manifold from TA that is already plumbed for port FI. You can also have many existing manifolds converted to FI by several shops around the country. And with controllers like the FAST ECM and others, tuning FI is no big chore. My setup "WORKS" fantastic. It is very, very user friendly. Remember, though, that for "cost effective", you have to have a large quantity. Switching to FI is not the same as switching carbs, you have to re-think a whole lot on the car. I could easily generate 1500HP by bolting on a blower, run 20 PSI of boost, a bit of nitrous to act as an intercooler, and a totally streetable 1500HP would be a piece of cake for me (a few minor changes like injector size and fuel pump/delivery would have to change concurrently). Of course then the problem becomes the rest of the car- that would annihilate my transmission, let alone a bunch of other weak spots that would show up. Anyone want to build me a tranny for 2000 HP? (Yes, I know stuff like bearing clearances would also have to change, etc., which would be great for a daily driver) The technology exists, but don't expect prices come down unless Buick owners start converting to FI by the thousands. And even at that rate, you still aren't gonna see a huge drop in price- maybe 10% or 20%. -Bob Cunningham
Bob: You have hit it right on the head. You are one of only a select few that have tried the switch. It would be great to see the Buick market have the opportunity to buy a EFI setup with a FAST management system. As for the transmission, turn no further than ROSSLER transmissions. He builds them for the racing community and also campaigns a TH400 in his 6.70 sec 55 Chevy. I have been using his transmissions for 10 years with heralded success. Now, if we could only get that 2000 HP Buick motor built that would stay together for 100-200 passes. WOW. Maybe next year.:Brow: :Brow:
That's the place. I have a new Rossler Glide built for the Opel (spare). He also built the TH400 in my 71 S1 Conv. and the TH400 in my 86 GN. Great guy to deal with. Not cheap!!
