Best fuel system to run on 350?

[bandy rooster]

right now I have got what i see to be the next best thing to throttle body, i have a quadrajet, but whats everyone else's choice: list pros and cons

I was seriously considering a TBI conversion a little while back but i feel as though that theres TPI and MPFI that is a much better conversion

list:
regularly aspirated
propane injection( thought this was unique but power loss)
MPFI
TPI

whats everyones preferences? also what conversion kits do you use? howell, painless, stock system butchered to your needs?

i'd be able to get most of the sensors at a discounted price so i was just looking for most (throttle body,intake, wiring harness setups)

 

[bandy rooster]

i guess with the MPFI and TPI you have to weigh in the degree of difficulty in the conversion, anyone have any experience with a DD on propane?

 

[Gumby]

I like TBI for the simplicity. It's easy to diagnose, easy to fix, easy to install.

90% of TBI no-start issues can be diagnosed with a test light and your eyes.

The ability to SEE fuel delivery can't be understated.

Lower fuel pressure helps with fuel pump life too.

The improvement in performance, emissions and mileage is minimal in our rigs with TPI, EFI, CPI, etc.

 

[numtel]

Propane is nice but I wouldn't dd it. If you are going to do that, you should run dual fuel with a carb like me. I like the extra fuel capacitiy of having two tanks but it sucks to have a lot less storage space. I would either do what I have or tbi. A stock gm tbi setup would work great and not be very hard to install.

 

[Eskimo]

list:
regularly aspirated
propane injection( thought this was unique but power loss)
MPFI
TPI

I've been involved one way or the other with all of these.. I started with a q-jet also.

I'd classify it 3 ways, with 2 of them being similar.

1: Propane. Unless there are a ton of filling stations near you with good hours, I wouldn't DD it. No way. Dual fuel sucks IME and means you can't get back any of the power loss by raising compression, re-curving the dizzy, etc.. and is always a compromise. Great for off-road, unless you have people that don't like the smell.
Advantages: Totally simple, and cheap.
Disadvantages: Limited re-filling.

2: TBI - Very simple, and can be retrofitted to a currently carburated engine. Howell has come a long way since the '90's when we did a GM TBI kit on my friend's 4.2L Jeep.
Advantages: least expensive TBI, and the least complicated.
Disadvantages: not as efficient as the newer EFI, more tuning required typically.

3: TPI/MPFI: IMO, just get the whole engine, with EVERYTHING. If you're inclined, you can strip the harness down, or it can be done for you for ~250. add in another $200 for re-programming to strip out the unnecessary things from the PCM.
Advantage: Probably the most power and best economy. Possible aluminum heads/block depending on the engine. Incredible response.
Disadvantages: Cost / complexity (See "Medusa")

 

[brokenparts]

I like my TBI 350... like mentioned before most things can be figured out with a test like or jumper.

 

[bandy rooster]

thanks for the info guys, i guess i didn't take into the account of our huge rigs (thinking the EFI would give me way better performance then TBI)


any pref. on install kits? heard good news about howell or painfull? but i can get my hands on edelbrock stuff really easy...


howell seems to be my top choice right now, is there any problems running TBI without emissions or EGR? can you just eliminate them without reprogramming?


i guess i should just be looking all this stuff up lol

 

[CruisinGA]

don't limit your search to LC sites like 'mud.... there is a lot more info on this elsewhere rather than here.

Megasquirt is worth looking into if your a serious DIY'er.

 

[LT]

Propane. But I am biased

 

[Eskimo]

No problems not running emissions garbage with any of the EFI.. It just needs to be removed from the programming.

 

[Gumby]

TBI doesn't monitor EGR working like OBD-II does. The ECM just sends the signal and forgets about it. You won't pop codes if you just don't run it.

It might give you timing advance and leaner burn at cruise thinking it's on, but not a big deal on a trail truck.

EGR is not necessarily a bad thing either. Cools combustion temps for less detonation.

AIR and EVAP is unnecessary and the ECM won't care if it's there or not. Again, it just sends the signal and forgets about it. No monitoring to see if it actually did anything.

Like I said, I like it because it's dumb. Vortec is pretty damn nice, but it doesn't like mods as much.

 

[Hank]

http://www.affordable-fuel-injection.com/

I have used their products with very good success. Also the answers to many of your questions are available in the tech on the site. I also like the TBI for the simplicity. I have a friend wiring a TPI 5.7L from a camaro right now into a blazer/tube cab truck thing and he will have a few days in it. He is finding product support is weak for it since it is quite old and was produced in less numbers. The TBI on the other hand can be up and running in a few hours. I like the tuneability that the PROM can offer with a reburn, the availability of PCM's that will work if away from home (although I will carry a spare anyway). The TBI can also work well with aftermarket performance set ups such as distributors/ignition systems, with o2's without o2's, a wide range of compression ratio's also can be had with good performance. I do have a decent amount of experience with the 6.0 and the 5.3L which are very nice engines and I would like the performance and power they offer in stock form but the simplicity isn't there. They are not attainable for my budget either though.

 

[bandy rooster]

got the shopping list started.. i think i've got every part number for every part that goes on the TBI - i think i'm going with a harness and dist. off a 87-90 k1500 ( super common at the junk yard unless i can find a more simple g20 or something) the only things i don't know what they are; are as follows:

EVRE solenoid?
ECT?
CEC?
IAT?

 

[Isotel]

im happy with my TBI FWIW..

id suggest using a new harness, affordable fuel injection, howell, Painless something like that.. They simplify everything, and you get all new connectors. I went with a factory one and its been a pain!

 

[Gumby]

got the shopping list started.. i think i've got every part number for every part that goes on the TBI - i think i'm going with a harness and dist. off a 87-90 k1500 ( super common at the junk yard unless i can find a more simple g20 or something) the only things i don't know what they are; are as follows:

EVRE solenoid?
ECT?
CEC?
IAT?

ECT is engine coolant temp. Usually located in the intake near the t-stat
IAT is intake air temp. Located on the air cleaner on a TBI if it has this feature. Not all did.
EVRE solenoid is a Ford thing, I think
CEC isn't familiar either

 

[bandy rooster]

heres something that could go in the FAQ or tech trivia for 350 TBI conversion

1. injectors - 8001807n
2.fuel pump relay - mr44
3.idle air control valve - 779-10003
4.MAP - 799-11502
5.coil - gc408
6. distributor - 30-1830
7.ignition module/control unit - el128
8.coolant temp sensor - tsu81
9.fuel pump cutoff switch - fsv7
10.knock sensor - ks7
11.oil pressure sender - OPS132
12. oxygen sensor - single wire - 11027
13. spark control switch - el05
14. speed sensor - 779-9584
15. temp sender - TSU2
16. Throttle position sensor - 779-3540

all parts i have allocated are on hand, I can even get the computer those vehicles, for example w/ OEM 1227747 - 1 yr replacement for around 65.00

 

[Gumby]

Nice list.

The oil pressure sender can be bypassed as well. It's part of the fuel pump circuit. If the rig looses oil pressure, the fuel pump shuts off.

If you roll and can't turn off the ignition and the computer continues to recieve a tach signal, then the fuel pump will continue to pump, possibly causing an engine to seize or, if you severed a fuel line (more a problem in an accident that a wheeling flop) you could pump fuel everywhere.

OTOH, if you're in a crack and wheeling sideways enough that you lose oil pressure, your rig will die and will not restart. Pretty good reason to bypass that circuit and run a conventional sending unit just for the guage.