Holly Terminator and Eng breakin

[broncopilot67]

Hi all
I have a quick question I'm putting a Holley terminator TBI on a new rebuilt 302 with a flat tappet cam. my question is how will the break in work as i understand i have to run the engine at about 2000 rpm for 20 min to break in cam. Is this going to cause problems with the computer learning being fresh out of the box? and can I do this or should I put a carb on it to break in then switch to the TBI. Thanks for the help

 

[bobscott]

Interested in this also. I am putting a TBI on a fresh build as well. I figured I would worry about break in first as the computer can re-learn.

 

[Teal68]

If you have a carb handy I'd use it for break in. Too many variables in the initial TBI IMO.

 

[bmc69]

If you have a carb handy I'd use it for break in. Too many variables in the initial TBI IMO.

That is pretty sound advice. Nothing in the initial startup is going to "hurt" or otherwise adversely affect the Holley EFI system..the problem is that you need a crisp, clean immediate startup, with absolutely minimal cranking time, going right to the 2000RPM+ initial break-in period. That is not the time to be messing around troubleshooting and/or tuning the EFI.

 

[JWMcCrary]

It should be fine, everything will be based on the information you enter at startup. It has to be above 160 temp before it learns so a portion of the breakin it wouldn't be learning anyway. I wouldn't redo fuel lines and carb, I would make sure everything is installed correctly and fire it up for break-in.

 

[JWMcCrary]

That is pretty sound advice. Nothing in the initial startup is going to "hurt" or otherwise adversely affect the Holley EFI system..the problem is that you need a crisp, clean immediate startup, with absolutely minimal cranking time, going right to the 2000RPM+ initial break-in period. That is not the time to be messing around troubleshooting and/or tuning the EFI.

I don't disagree with that either, however I installed the Holley Terminator a while back and it started and ran instantly, faster than any startup I ever did with a carb. But that meant everything was right at startup, no hiccups.

 

[broncopilot67]

Thanks for all it info. Sounds like the carb is the way to go this is a frame off and just getting it running with no problems will be a plus. thanks again

 

[bmc69]

I don't disagree with that either, however I installed the Holley Terminator a while back and it started and ran instantly, faster than any startup I ever did with a carb. But that meant everything was right at startup, no hiccups.

I am encouraged by that because I'm going to be starting up a new engine pretty soon with that system running MPI and starting with a carb is not an option.

My problem has always been that I'm putting EFI on odd engines where the initial map can be hard to guess at and the initial startup does not always go that smoothly. Starts, yes...runs well enough to go right to uninterrupted cam break in..not always.