i need help with converting an old carb engine to a fuel injected one.

savagesicslayer

savagesicslayer

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My dad owns a 77 thunderbird that he's in the process of restoring.He loves this car like it's one of his own kids but with the high cost of fuel(1.00+/L) he can't afford to drive it:( .So he's been batting around the idea of converting the engine to a fuel-injected system to save fuel.I've been asked to find a conversion kit for him online but I don't know much about cars and so far I've come up short.Can any of you help me find a conversion kit or a place that sells them.The engine is a 400 big block if that helps any.
 
savagesicslayer said:
My dad owns a 77 thunderbird that he's in the process of restoring.He loves this car like it's one of his own kids but with the high cost of fuel(1.00+/L) he can't afford to drive it:( .So he's been batting around the idea of converting the engine to a fuel-injected system to save fuel.I've been asked to find a conversion kit for him online but I don't know much about cars and so far I've come up short.Can any of you help me find a conversion kit or a place that sells them.The engine is a 400 big block if that helps any.
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Not totally sure but, wasn't it developed for cleaner burning,promoting less loping & stalling ?

Folks at a Dyno-tune told me that & said fuel economy was not the reason it was developed/how it works .

If he wants muscle,he'll probably pay for it with a BIG block.

When I ran a garage [pre-fuel injection ] we found that re-jetting or going to a Carter carb was a fix for gas guzzlers .

Can't have it 2 ways ,choose savings or speed .

Wish you the best . Let us know what happens.

Uncle Alan
 
What Uncle Alan said:thumbup:,another thought,assuming it's a 4BBL ya' could go to a 2BBL carb.

Doug:)
 
Pull out the 400 and put in a 302. It should bolt right up to the bellhousing but you may need to use the torque converter from the 302 also.
 
I'm pretty sure Edelbrock makes a fuel injection conversion for the 351C, not sure if it will work with the 400.

I know it comes with a kick ass MSD billet distributor. I know you can also set it up the idle speed, mixture settings, etc., with out a lap top computer.

I know you can get more HP out of this set-up that a conventional 4bbl - I guess it's possible you could tune it for max fuel economy.

Here's the number to Edelbrock's tech support line: 800-416-8828 or 310-781-2222. Go straight to the source.

The only problem is a set-up like this will cost more than the car is worth. You'll have a kick ass car if you get it, though.

You could bolt on some headers, Flowmaster mufflers, and a 2 1/2" dual exhaust. That should help your mileage a bit and give you some extra ponies to boot. Plus, you car will sound real cool.:) The 400 was kind of a dog as it came from the factory, especially in the late '70s.

You could also upgrade to a 4 speed automatic transmission, but it's not worth the time and $$$, in my opinion.

BTW, I had a 1973 Thunderbird with a 460 cid engine. Now, that car really got bad gas mileage!
 
uncle Alan said:
Not totally sure but, wasn't it developed for cleaner burning,promoting less loping & stalling ?

Folks at a Dyno-tune told me that & said fuel economy was not the reason it was developed/how it works .

When I ran a garage [pre-fuel injection ] we found that re-jetting or going to a Carter carb was a fix for gas guzzlers .

Uncle Alan
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Uncle Alan is right. When I switched to a new Edelbrock Performer carb (almost exactly the same as a Carter AFB, I have both), I picked up like 1.5 mpg on my Ford. Now, that may not sound like a lot, but on a car that only got 10 mpg, it's over a 10% increase in fuel economy.

Power did suffer, though. Those carbs are set up at the factory for mileage, but that's what you want, right?

Alan is also right about fuel injection not being developed for better mileage. It's actually ancient tech, the German BF-109 used it, and we are talking about the Spanish Civil War which was before WW2! Fuel economy is useful in a warplane (like the P51D Mustang and the A6M Zero), but obviously a fighter needs SPEED to survive, which means power!

In a nutshell, fuel injection is a more precise fuel metering system than a carb.
 
If anyone offers what you want, Edelbrock is it.

But, as others have pointed out, fuel injection isn't gonna dramatically improve fuel economy. And, given its cost, you'll never recoup the investment.

Face it, this thing's got 400. It was not made for fuel economy. A leopard can not change its spots.
 
leatherbird said:
What Uncle Alan said:thumbup:,another thought,assuming it's a 4BBL ya' could go to a 2BBL carb.

Doug:)
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Blew an engine crossing the Santee bridge back in the '70's.New engine out of my reach but dealer found 2 used bolt-in's for $ 500 each. I chose the Chevvy 327 @ 300hp. When asked why an older man wanted that hp.,I said that it probably had been re-worked & was in better shape.

This is quadrajet days, right ?

Engine arrives with above mentioned carb, is dropped in & fires up first try. Mechanic said the back plates had been disabled. No problem, just wanted reliable motor.
Boogie on home & make a quick u-turn, going North again pulling a loaded 4 wheel racecar hauler. No car aboard,just all my worldly goods.

Good part . That sucker pulled all that weight at turnpike speeds & got 22mpg ! Sold some stuff & returned to open " Apex Auto " & parts shop.

I'd get my kicks when 2 young'un's would pull up beside me at the light . They'd be going , "iron", "iron" & "wooden" ,"wooden", revving their engines & an older man in a faded blue 4-door Chevvy'd leave 'em in an eyeblink. Sadly,the garage end of the business grew so fast thay I sold that 'lil' darlin' & bought a used wrecker.

That 327 @300 hp had enormous balls. Wanted to drop her in a modified in a heartbeat but it didn't happen.

Uncle [those were the days,my friend ! ] Alan ;)
 
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