CFI to CARB-Advantages, Disadvantages

[1990LTD]

Disconnecting the parking brake release won't have any negative effects

[Merc302]

wait wait wait. My ebrake has a manual release actuated by a cable?

[Merc302]

That seemed like a question, it wasnt.
anyway. instead of putting an eccentric on my current cam, you think i should just get a new cam? Im pretty sure stock lift on my cam was 375 intake and 385-395 on exhaust. that seems like alot really.

[1990LTD]

There is really no way you could make one of these motors worse with a new camshaft

[johnunit]

that's not a lot at all. lots of "streetable" cams have .500+ lift numbers. I'll let someone else fill in the blanks, but max lift numbers don't mean that much in terms of how extreme a carb is.

[Crownvicman289]

Alright. Theres a vaccumm line on the FRONT of the pedal assembly. THATS the parking brake release. my leak is coming from BEHIND the pedal but definitely off the pedal.

Vacuum line on the front of the parking brake or brake brake? The line leading to the can that's on the parking brake is the parking brake release, but the line coming off the brake pedal is for your cruise control.

[Smokestacklightnin]

A carb is much better than the cfi. I tried to run the cfi on mine as long as i could, but realized that some of the components are obsolete and how long do expect a computer from the 1980's to last? You CAN use the existing fuel pump. I'm running two fuel pressure regulators. Im using a Holley regulator 12-803BP (bypass regulator) about $85 from summit. I had to use a second one because it was only able to take the pressure down to 10psi, so i got a Mr. Gasket one from O'reilly and now able to adjust it where i want. I have it set at 6.5. Other regulators are available but can get pretty pricey. I used rubber hoses for the connection off the existing fuel line, and for the return from the bypass. I used fuel line rated for fuel injection service, but after the regulators i used regular fuel line. Im running an edelbrock performer intake 2121 (this is a non egr intake), and 1405 carb its manual choke and 600cfm w/vac secondaries.

[Smokestacklightnin]

This is a picture of the fuel setup. I'm also running nitrous hence the two pressure gauges.

[Smokestacklightnin]

another view

[gadget73]

Any camshaft will need the fuel pump eccentric added to it. Its not part of the cam, its a thing that sits in front of the timing gear.


If you do put a carb on it, completely remove the CFI wiring harness. Dont cut anything, it unplugs and unbolts. You'll need to make a new wiring harness to power the ignition system but thats about it. It looks so much cleaner than having half of a hacked up wiring harness laying around in the engine compartment. its safer too, no risk of a hot wire shorting against stuff.

[Crownvicman289]

Carb vs. EFI will always be an opinionated argument. IMO, EFI is superior and I'd sooner throw a stock HO intake manifold and lopo SEFI electronics on your car than a carb, but I'm an odd animal. I've performed 4 EFI swaps myself, one of them with a standalone that I tuned. I also tuned my OBDII truck, so neither aspects of EFI swapping concern me. I'd really like to EFI my friend's '69 Mustang if I can get all my projects out of the way first. That would be sweet.

[Merc302]

Vacuum line on the front of the parking brake or brake brake? The line leading to the can that's on the parking brake is the parking brake release, but the line coming off the brake pedal is for your cruise control.

thats what i mean the footbrake, and yes there is the vac line on the front but the leak is off of the pedal from behind?

[Merc302]

As far as the new ignition wiring harness goes, how would i go about that, a junkyard recipe or is there something else i should look for?

[Crownvicman289]

thats what i mean the footbrake, and yes there is the vac line on the front but the leak is off of the pedal from behind?

That sounds like the switch itself is leaking for the cruise control. Real easy to swap out.

[86VickyLX]

wait wait wait. My ebrake has a manual release actuated by a cable?

Yes, and a vacuum release.

Also, note that your engine does not have a roller cam, so unless it's roller compatible, you're stuck with flat tappet cams. If you do change the cam, you need to change the valvetrain as well, since the lifters are worn to the old cam.