Ram-jet vs turn key 385hp 350 carb'd

[Lulu]

I am beginning to question the need for the ram jet. The reasons are all the necessary sensors... I have a 1974 FJ. I want to keep the smog, lack of cat, etc the way it is. If I just got the crate turn key engine and didn't try to modify it for more power, low end grunt, and what not, should I have the trouble that others have been having with their carb's? Hunting/camping rig, I do not rock crawl.
I am older, but not old enough to really remember driving a vehicle without FI accept for motorcycles, and I never really had any troubles with the bikes that were carb'd.

any advice or stories about your current set up would be great and why you chose the way you did...

thanks in advance

Brad

 

[Sharp38]

Brad

If cash is not in question, you will be happiest with the Ram Jet, It's absolutley trouble free and has plenty of power. I have put two in cruisers built for others and they perform flawlessly in all the altitudes. Add Ram Horns exhaust manifold, put in the O2 sensor just below the manifold and you are ready to go. Wiring is simple.

Don

 

[Sharp38]

Brad, by the way, you can check out a couple of photos of my installs on my web site at Home Page Wolf Creek Rod Works.

Don

 

[Lulu]

Thanks Don. I guess my fears were the complicatedness (is that a word?) of the wiring. Money has a little to do with it as I am trying to get into med school and money will not be freely flowing for a few years... BUT, reliability is the main thing... I don't want to have to mess with the carb in the morning before work/school which ever it may be... the $1600 difference in the two engines with that in mind is not as big a deal... Citibank loves me. I will check out your website for sure and do you mind a pm or 5 when I get to that part of the rebuild... just now going to sandblaster with frame...

thanks

Brad

 

[mmw68]

Brad - I stuck a 3FE EFI Toyota engine into my FJ40. It very nice. It's basically a fuel injected 2f. I've been driving it almost every day, and it's been very dependable. Randy over at RTcustoms is in Dallas and has lots of good advice with engine swaps. He is currently working on a custom engine harness for a 2F to 3FE. The wiring is very simple, it's not a crazy as one would think.


A few of the guys in the Dallas chapter of Lone Star Land Cruisers have done this as well, I think they are having a meeting on Thursday, drop buy...

-Mark

 

[iaintscared1969]

The choices for engines are endless. You can run multiple set ups. The Ram Jet is a great setup you get the bst of both worlds and it is a strong engine. But on the other hand you can also do the same with the standard V-8 and add a Projection or EFI system for the difference. It is all about personal choice,appearance, and function. If you ever stop by one of the meetings or want to see an install in progress shoot me an e mail or PM. Be glad to show you the difference. BTW if you are going to Med school think of wiring as the same as a vein it goes somewhere and it has a function!

 

[Lulu]

Sharp38- Just looked at your web site Don, that Green 74 is exactly what I have, and what I want... Ram Jet and have a NV4500 hopefully still waiting on me with Bob Firestein motor mounts... question, it looks like you moved the shock towers? Or am I seeing it wrong? My other question for you is, I have read that a lift is required for V8 conversions. If so how much? Don't want a tree climber but was thinking about 2" already.

iaintscared1969- Randy, do you guys still meet at Hard 8? And the meeting is tomorrow? I really need to see some things in person. Great info on here but nothing beats seeing something first hand to see the whole thing finished...

Brad

 

[WretchWrider]

Have you considered propane injection? Many of the benefits of FI plus some. A plain Gen I smallblock with propane injection will run pretty much upside down (oiling issues aside), plus you get to claim to drive an alternative clean burning vehicle!

 

[JONNYFJ]

Have you considered propane injection? Many of the benefits of FI plus some. A plain Gen I smallblock with propane injection will run pretty much upside down (oiling issues aside), plus you get to claim to drive an alternative clean burning vehicle!

Problem with running propane is space for the tank-tanks if you want to get any mileage out of it, and you use it as an everyday driver finding a fill up station can be hard. I'm not knocking propane at all, but they need more fill stations. I wanted to do a gotpropane.com conversion on my SBC until I found out about fill stations and tank sizes.

 

[JONNYFJ]

Here is a good link about propane Fuel Consumption

 

[Sharp38]

Brad

Both the FJ 45 and the Green FJ 40 have the ram jets. The 45 has the A/C compressor on the serpentine belt system. We installed the Vintage Air system and it worked great. We did not have to lift the vehicle, but I would suggest that you could have concerns with the clearance between the pan the the front differential. I would think a 2-3 inch lift would clear you easily, unless you are really flexing the vehicle. On another email, you questioned the wiring. The ramjet has a very simple system. It has an ignition wire, a hot wire and a ground. The rest of the provided harness goes to the sensors on the vehicle. You have to install the o2 sensor just below your exhaust manifold in the top of the exhaust pipe. Simple installation. What we like about Fuel injection of any type is that we live at 7,000 feet and our terrain is from 4,000 feet to 11,000 feet. Carbuerators have such a time adapting while FI is always at the right air fuel mixture.

Hope all that helps. Don

 

[Sharp38]

Nice talking to you today, Jon.

Don

 

[JONNYFJ]

Nice talking to you today, Jon.

Don

Like wise I really like your work i looked into it a little deeper a lunch man that FJ45 looks nice. I wish I had the bones to build something like that. JONNY

Sorry for the HighJack

 

[cruzerman350]

i hvae a 350 in my 40 with a rochester 2 barrel. it has more power than i ever need and the carb has never stalled on any angle, i lose traction before i lose fuel. and my motor is as simple as possible. plus i like to be able to fix my cruiser in the middle of nowhere with a pair pf pliers and some bailing wire.

 

[malcb]

Fuel consumption

I am older, but not old enough to really remember driving a vehicle without FI accept for motorcycles, and I never really had any troubles with the bikes that were carb'd.
Brad

Now I feel too old, I am in my mid 30's and can remember FI becoming "normal" cars, FI was around before I was born.

I would imagine fuel consumption would be os interest. $1600 doesn't buy much fuel now and this sounds like a setup you intend keeping for some time, might be particularly relevant if med school requires long trips.

 

[Lulu]

Ha. I'm 35. Should have said "I don't remember my 81 Camaro carb'd having too much trouble until I dropped a 327 into it. Couldn't ever get it timed right or something. Kept backfiring. Blew the air cleaner off one day Ah the good ole days.
If I do this, I want to do it right and not have to worry about it. My wife will be supporting us and she is being really great about me doing this before getting into med school. I don't want to have to work on it every weekend to keep it running.

 

[JONNYFJ]

Did you check out sharps website wolf creek rods. Damn those Ram Jets look sweet

 

[iaintscared1969]

He does nice work. Here's my favorite choice...

 

[JONNYFJ]

DROOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Lulu]

iaintscared1969- in the words of todays youth OMG!! I love the red too, think that is the color I am going with. I need to pick your brain. Where in Irving are you. My inlaws live in Cottonwood Valley on Macarthur. I kind of know the area. I am in Farmers Branch. i would love to come see that close up... but don't you have to add a lot of smog, cat, etc stuff for a newer engine like that if it is going to be on street or does the age and "classic car" status get it a go ahead on inspection?

Brad