swapping to FI

[1988montess]

i was wondering what the best thing to do is. as you all know these cars are pigs on gas, and the gas prices are ridiculous. to swap to FI, what do you guys think is the best thing to do. i really dont wanna get rid of my car because of gas. cost wise what is more effective?
1: get a feul inject kit and install it
2: swap an engine with a fuel injected one.

 

[dan2286]

I would think you would be better off just buying the kit. It wont be as cost effective, but if you think of all the time it will take to get a used setup and make it all work right, it will be worth the money. Plus some of the kits have alot more flexibility with fine tuning, they might come with a programmer for adustments to make for a more efficient engine.

I guess it all comes down to what your time is worth, and how much money you want to spend. You can go to a junkyard and get the setup(you probably will just need the intake manifold, and all related components) for well under a 1000 bucks. The kit is gonna be for about 3 grand.

Another option is to get all of the components from a used car, and get a new harness from painless. That will save you alot of time dealing with the wiring, and will be alot cheaper than the whole kit. I think this would be your most cost effective route.

 

[1988montess]

but if i can get a 350 with FI for like 600 bucks and get it swapped in for 1k, wouldnt that be better?? what more would be involved in that?

 

[dan2286]

but if i can get a 350 with FI for like 600 bucks and get it swapped in for 1k, wouldnt that be better?? what more would be involved in that?

I was going by if you were doing all of the work yourself. If you are havin someone doing it for you, go that way.

 

[megaladon6]

if you can get a good engine with EVERYTHING (wiring harness, ecm, sensors, intake tubing, etc) for 600 i'd go that route.
what year/model did it come out of? the easiest is probably the mid 90's truck vortec 350's. they're the same style as a gen1 and i believe will use your stock motor mounts.
EFI is not a miracle cure to MPG though. you might get more but not much.

 

[1988montess]

it would be out of that kind of truck if i go that route. what(if there is) might be a miracle cure for gas mileage for this engine?

 

[megaladon6]

a strong low-end torque engine, with an overdrive trans and good gears will get you some mpg. but there is no miracle cure. if you build the engine just right, from the ground up, you can maximize cylinder efficiency.
here's an interesting one from chevy high performance built by jeff smith, 302ci bow-tie block, crower small journal 3.00in stroke, 6.00in aftermarket rods (based on ford 6-cyl rods i believe), JE pistons (9.0:1?), and 1/16in rings. it was built at zero deck with tight clearances, afr 195 heads, with a small crane camshaft (210/220 @.050 LSA of 114) and 1.6:1 roller rockers. for induction he used a lingenfelter/ACCEL super ram and a small supercharger. it made 300hp N/A with high cylinder pressures (which greatly aids low rpm fuel mileage) with 28* of total timing and 14psi of boost he got 550hp and an average of 25mpg on the Power Tour with "...idling around on cruise nights and running down the road between 70 and 90mph!" this was in a 65 chevelle with a richmond 6-spd and 3.55:1 rear gears.
or you could get a duramax diesel and reprogram the ecm for max efficiency and/or run biofuel/waste vegetable oil. it'll swap in, not easy but it can be done.

 

[megaladon6]

check out fitch fuel catalyst. they have been shown to increase fuel economy and lower the octane needed.

 

[dan2286]

it would be out of that kind of truck if i go that route. what(if there is) might be a miracle cure for gas mileage for this engine?

Just stay away from TBI and TPI. They get pretty bad gas mileage. The Vortec can get descent gas mileage if you dont beat on it all of the time, I have heard of people getting 24-25 mpg out of that engine. I would be happy with 20, my daily driver(2000 grand prix) usally gets around 17-18, and thats supposed to be a modern more efficient setup!

 

[1988montess]

that would be sweet, although pricey as a ****. thanks for the tip though.