FiTech vs Carb question

[mduenas]

I have searched hi and low and can't find the answer for this question. I am debating on adding the FiTech syestem for my truck. Currently my truck is being rebuilt at West Coast Broncos. I am dropping in a rebuilt 302 and a 700R4 transmission, I am planning on running 33inch tires as I have a Dana 30 and understand I can't run larger. So what my question is, would I be looking at increased gas mileage and efficiency if I went with the FiTech over the carb? I am looking to see if the increased mileage will offset the cost of the system and install, which was quoted at: $2,200-2,500. This seems like a lot, but I also understand the scope of work. I could do the install myself, but the reason the truck is being built by someone else, is my wife was tired of me working in it everyday for the past year, she just wanted it done. Is their an approx gas mileage anyone can give me from one vs the other? I had a 351w in the truck and like I said it is being replaced with a rebuilt 302. Thank you!

 

[broncodriver99]

What kind of carb?

Not sure about the fuel mileage with the FITEch as there are only a couple installed. The best I have heard with the stock Explorer or Mustang EFI which is a better system is around 16MPG. I imagine the FITech could get close. So, no the fuel savings would never pay off.

Just for reference I have seen reports of a properly tuned and maintained stock Motorcraft 2 bbl being in the 14-15MPG range.

 

[Broncobowsher]

Do you already have the carb? If not you should price that out and compare the cost difference.

 

[mduenas]

Was purchasing a new 4bbl Holley carb so $440 or so? So it would be an $1800- 2200 install total.

I got horrible gas mileage on my 351w. 23 gallon tank would get me roughly 200 miles

With FiTech I feel it would start easy in any condition, and get better gas mikage. But possibly my a perfectly tuned 4bbl Holley would be just the same? I live in Los Angeles and do light off-roading, so mainly a street queen and lots of highway. I do venture to the mountains seldomly.

 

[Broncobowsher]

To your $440 holley, add in the extra parts (fuel pump, filters, etc.) to complete the comparison to installed EFI. Than figure that most out of the box carbs run good, but are not dialed in. So time and maybe some money to dial it in. To really dial it in figure some dyno time so they can load it at full throttle and cruising speeds and a handful of jets and maybe a powervalve to set it. Now the carb price is creeping closer to the EFI price.

 

[DirtDonk]

As comfortable as I am with carburetors, I pretty much always side with EFI these days.
That said, I doubt you can use fuel savings as a justification for the price difference. As said, I don't remember anyone here giving out with FiTech fuel economy info. But I can give you mine if it will help.
Not FiTech, but a finely tuned Explorer EFI setup with full OBDII and DIS setup will still get down into the 10's around town and up to 20 on the highway. So I'm guessing that a typical throttle body injection system won't be any better. Could be, but likely will bracket it at either end.

I got a reliable 17.5 with an old 450 Holley carb for awhile, but the Bronco couldn't get out of it's own way. None of us ever got better than 15.5 mpg with our stock 2bbl carbs, or small-ish 4bbl Carters.

All of that is by way of saying that, while I support your wanting the EFI for all the other reasons, fuel economy improvements are going to be minimal.
But what about your old mileage figures? Did you ever actually check? Just saying you could only get 200 miles out of a 23 gallon tank doesn't cut it. What were the conditions, and did you run until the tank was empty and the engine stalled out? Or were you just going by the gauge and generalizing? It's a HUGE difference between that and actually checking the miles traveled vs the fuel used.

Good luck with the justification argument! Sorry I wasn't more help in that regard.

Paul

 

[norm02]

I understand why your interested in the fuel economy savings between carb & FI but as others have mentioned, I would not consider that to be big reason to make the switch. I doubt that you will notice much of a difference between FI and a properly tuned carb.

More than likely what you will notice is increased performance at all elevation levels, easier starting, and better all around drive-ability. With that said, I have not converted a carb equipped vehicle over to fuel injection but I've owned plenty of vehicles that were either equipped with carbs or had fuel injection. The ones that had FI were much more reliable for daily driving and easier to start in cold weather.

 

[Faster Eddie]

Does your wife do the books? If not do what you want, then just smile and nod....


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[mduenas]

Thank you everyone for the input!

 

[Broncobowsher]

Well, what did you decide?




I hope it was the fuel injection.