CFI to CARB-Advantages, Disadvantages

[Smokestacklightnin]

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?

Check this link out, this is the setup i'm using for my ignition, and it has been working very well.

http://www.carbdford.com/tech/HEI/hei.htm

[gadget73]

Here's a thought. Since you're planning to do the timing chain anyway, do that and install the fuel pump eccentric and the proper timing cover with a fuel pump blockoff plate. That way you can run the CFI for now, and if you decide to change it later on you can just bolt the pump up.

It really depends on your goals. If you want to go fast, CFI blows. You cannot make it do much of anything other than run a dead stock engine. Bolting a properly tuned 2bbl onto an otherwise 100% stock CFI motor will probably make more power. If you just want the car to run reliably without spending a lot of money on it, leaving the CFI alone is probably the cheapest route you can go. With a good timing chain, a tuneup, and some good vacuum lines a CFI car runs like a watch. They're also good on fuel if things are right, upper teens to low 20s is not unexpected. If you want more power, tunability, plus the turn-key reliability of fuel injection, a multiport EFI conversion is the way to go. SEFI swap should be good for the same or slightly better power than a 2bbl, plus you can just bump the key in any weather conditions and have the motor light right off. I like EFI in its various forms, but I do accept the limitations of CFI. Its not performance oriented or really even performance capable. I've worked on some CFI cars, and I know enough about it to make it run right but its just slow. If the CFI is totally fubar, and money is an issue, bolting a 2bbl down to the stock intake will get you going. 302s don't really need a 4bbl carb, especially CFI motors. They have dinky cams and crappy heads. A 4bbl carb is just more airflow than you absolutely need or can honestly make good use of.

[Merc302]

what about like a 340 cfm 4bbl?
buddy of mines offering me his holly 340 for 100 bucks

[gadget73]

that would probably be fine, but then you're into buying an intake as well. A 2bbl will just bolt to the stock intake.

How much money do you have to spend, and what are you trying to get out of the car?

[Merc302]

about 1k
right now im trying to get a good base to build on later. When i get a chance im gonna pull the motor and do a "master" rebuild
its gonna be my everyday, i just wanna be able to get up and go...as far as being able to eat mustangs, that can wait till later.
My main goal right now is performing this swap, i already planned on an intake. But the thing is, I dont know every thing i need so i havent been able to do much pricing.

[marquisman]

find your self a 2BBL 350CFM holley. thats what i have on my lincoln. it works flawlesly and moves the car pretty well for a 2BBL.

[gadget73]

yeah, 2bbl will do fine. If you just want it to run, and your CFI is basically operable as I seem to understand it is, the absolute cheapest thing you can do is leave it alone. I can't begin to tell you how much money I have wasted over the years to make things "better". For me, taking a motor that runs fine with what it has now and changing it to something else would be a good way to spend money and gain nothing. That motor isn't well suited for a hot rod build anyway, so honestly I'd just do what has to be done so it runs right, and use another motor for your build.

[Merc302]

Ive been considering a 350 chevrolet..."heartbeats under the hood" but im not wanting to hot rod the car. i dont even plan on pulling more than 300 rwhp out of the car.

[marquisman]

350 chev in your box? im gonna pretend i did not see that and walk away... might aswell get a B body GM car.

[gadget73]

you know, at one time I toyed with the idea of sticking a Mercruiser 350 (Chevy 350) in my car and telling people it was a Mercury smallblock, but then I got some sense and decided I didn't feel like doing the fabrication work required to make that happen. That, and I *hate* setting the f'n rocker arms on a Chevy motor.

[86VickyLX]

Ive been considering a 350 chevrolet..."heartbeats under the hood"

No

[1987cp]

I want to do this swap im just clueless as to where to start first exactly.
I plan on pulling the motor within the next month or so for all the little things i wont wanna do later. Ill do the chain then. along with a pan gasket while i have it out.

Start by removing everything related to your injection system. TB, distributor, computer, crank sensor (CFI uses that IIRC), disconnect all fuel plumbing and see if the 5/16" line on the d/s framerail can be reused ....... Basically, if it has a wire going to it, pull it off - except maybe the factory oil pressure switch and engine-just-overheated switch (if retaining the factory Replace Engine light; otherwise, yank those too).

Also of course determine whether your engine has a cam eccentric and fuel pump boss already ... and then of course start into parts decisions. What carb to get (want a pair of 2150 cores for cheap? ), how to provide spark, fuel pickup provisions, etc. etc. ........ I've mentioned a little about what I did with my '87 wagon when going to carb from SEFI, so that might provide some points of reference. You'll possibly be doing something slightly different with TV/kickdown connections, too.

[86VickyLX]

you know, at one time I toyed with the idea of sticking a Mercruiser 350 (Chevy 350) in my car and telling people it was a Mercury smallblock, but then I got some sense and decided I didn't feel like doing the fabrication work required to make that happen. That, and I *hate* setting the f'n rocker arms on a Chevy motor.

How would you explain the trademark Chevy/Chrysler head design with the two exhaust ports in the middle next to each other?

[1987cp]

No

How about a 348 Chevrolet?

[86VickyLX]

Start by removing everything related to your injection system. TB, distributor, computer, crank sensor (CFI uses that IIRC), disconnect all fuel plumbing and see if the 5/16" line on the d/s framerail can be reused ....... Basically, if it has a wire going to it, pull it off - except maybe the factory oil pressure switch and engine-just-overheated switch (if retaining the factory Replace Engine light; otherwise, yank those too).

Also of course determine whether your engine has a cam eccentric and fuel pump boss already ... and then of course start into parts decisions. What carb to get (want a pair of 2150 cores for cheap? ), how to provide spark, fuel pickup provisions, etc. etc. ........ I've mentioned a little about what I did with my '87 wagon when going to carb from SEFI, so that might provide some points of reference. You'll possibly be doing something slightly different with TV/kickdown connections, too.

EEC-III CFI use the crank sensor, EEC-IV CFI uses the TFI module.