EFI vs 302/351 carbed advice

[Tony Mele]

Hey all,
Please, advice needed. Looking at 2 different trucks. One is a 69 w/ rebuilt 302 w/EFI.
Other is 77 w/ carbed 351. Both are priced about the same.

I grew up messing around with carbureted engines. Never really worked with the EFI systems. Yeah...been a while.

Anyway, I am aware of some of the advantages of EFI. I'm just wondering, how difficult are they to diagnose, tune, and work on?

And, especially when it comes to reselling, is it harder to move a bronco with EFI?

Thanks
T

 

[sykanr0ng]

You will get opinions both ways.
I have come to favor EFI.

Which EFI system is on the '69?

 

[broncnaz]

If the EFI is done right then resale is no big deal. for the most part it depends on some of the other upgrades the 69 has. Power steering, front disc brakes, ect. The 77 should have come with both from the factory. 77's are usually considered to be a better deal but again it depends on how or if the 69 has been upgraded.
Most EFI setps are not that bad to work on. especially the ones commonly swapped into broncos. just have to know what setup was swapped on so you can get the correct parts if needed. Usually you'll just need to do simple tune ups like new spark plugs, cap and rotor and nothing else will be required or needed.
For the most part EFI tunes itself. unless you make big changes to the engine like stroking it or running a big cam its usually not a issue. but they can be done but usually have to be taken to a tuner who will make the changes that the computer requires to make it all run right.
Pretty much all EFI systems will have a way to access the computer codes when a problem occurs some are a simple flashing light others will require a code reader or a laptop hookup but in the end it pin points the problem and can make fixing things a lot easier as the code tells you what the issue is.

 

[Whoaa]

In one sentence, the biggest difference between a carbed engine and an EFI is that you dont need to "work on/tune" the EFI engine.

 

[jckkys]

I've got 3 EFI and 1 carbureted vehicle. EFI allows the owner to be lazy about maintenance. You can tell something's wrong but until the computer puts out a code you tend to wait till it gets bad enough for the computer to recognize it. You have the advantage of experience in diagnosing problems. So a carburetor doesn't intimate you. These days, many don't even know how to drive a vehicle with a carburetor. Over the years the EFI vehicles I own have needed every bit as much maintenance. The engines produced through the mid '60s ran very well with carbs. Emissions laws destroyed this. My carbureted '77 with a 351 is tuned like the '69 351Ws, and I wouldn't consider an EFI 302.

 

[Broncobowsher]

Also depends on what EFI is used. Stock Ford EEC-IV "mustang" EFI is very well known, parts are available and will be for years to come. Some of the aftermarket stuff can be very dodgy and parts obsolete and only available from limited sources.

What EFI is way more important detail then just if it has EFI. The old Holley analog (5-knob) EFI is one of those that I would pull and put a good carb in it's place. Even many of the GM based EFI I would do that to simply because the generic or mail order tune that are in them is almost always not really tuned. They run, but are far from truly dialed in.

Given no other info besides a carbed 351 and an EFI 302, given they both run fairly good and are in comparible condition, I would lean toward the 351.

 

[Tony Mele]

Thanks ! Just more comfortable with the carb.

 

[Oatmeal]

Well,
The 77' has a D44 with factory discs (power was an option but, I've never seen one without) up front, power steering, heavier duty rear axle housing with bigger rear brakes and most likely a factory C4 auto.
Where as the 69' would have drums all around, weaker rear "banjo" style rear housing with smaller brakes and a D30 up front.
If it does have auto, power steering and power discs, they would have been swapped in.
I would go with the 351W powered 77'

My 74' has all the good stuff I mentioned above (except I switched from the auto to an NP435) but, my swapped in (I built mine to 69' 4bbl specs) 351W really transformed it into something my 302 never was......I'm running a q-jet right now but, am in the middle of doing a simple old school TBI conversion.

So, if you want EFI, it would be easier and less costly to add it to the 351 than to upgrade the other stuff on the 69'
Hans

 

[kb6677]

Well,
The 77' has a D44 with factory discs (power was an option but, I've never seen one without) up front, power steering, heavier duty rear axle housing with bigger rear brakes and most likely a factory C4 auto.
Where as the 69' would have drums all around, weaker rear "banjo" style rear housing with smaller brakes and a D30 up front.
If it does have auto, power steering and power discs, they would have been swapped in.
I would go with the 351W powered 77'

My 74' has all the good stuff I mentioned above (except I switched from the auto to an NP435) but, my swapped in (I built mine to 69' 4bbl specs) 351W really transformed it into something my 302 never was......I'm running a q-jet right now but, am in the middle of doing a simple old school TBI conversion.

So, if you want EFI, it would be easier and less costly to add it to the 351 than to upgrade the other stuff on the 69'
Hans

^^^^^^^^ Winner, saved me from typing this- will add, unless you are planning on bouncing around on rocks and hill climbs, kiss principle is your friend. Case in point- my '68 stretched 392 Windsor is efi and has been reliable for the last 13 years it sits for extended periods of time, I kind of pucker my rear when I start out with it (efi components were new when we did it, but as I said 13 years ago). Took my Holley 570 street avenger fed 306 '74 eb to the 50th a couple weeks ago and put around 160 miles on it in a couple days. Had a screwdriver and basic tool kit. Smile on my face all weekend. Did not touch the carb. That bronco sits more than my efi rig.

On a related note, regardless of induction, make sure you do NOT let the rig sit for extended periods with ethanol fuel in it. We use non ethanal 90 and this product:

https://www.amazon.com/PRI-Fuel-Sta...=1467081463&sr=8-2&keywords=pri+fuel+additive

 

[bmc69]

Even many of the GM based EFI I would do that to simply because the generic or mail order tune that are in them is almost always not really tuned. They run, but are far from truly dialed in.

I beg to differ. I lost count of how many Howell systems I installed or helped install..and the number that were spot on far outnumbered those that were not.

That said..there are better bolt-on EFI options now galore.

 

[Broncobowsher]

I beg to differ. I lost count of how many Howell systems I installed or helped install..and the number that were spot on far outnumbered those that were not.

That said..there are better bolt-on EFI options now galore.

I'll counter that with every one (lost track of how many) that tried to run on the dyno would peg the A/F on the top end full rich or full lean. Idle and mid range ran pretty good. But never saw one that was really tuned worth a crap. But they did start with the touch of a key and had very good drivability. The neat part about EFI is that even though the tune was totally jacked up, they ran better then the crap carb they had before.