Should i get EFI?

[aveti]

Hey guys, new Bronco owner here. Ive had my ‘74 for about little over a year and its a fun car but it just doesnt feel practical at all. I want to feel more confident driving it. I dont like that i have to wait 10-15 minutes for it warm up everytime i drive it. I want to just hop in, start the car and go. Any suggestions? Ive looked a little in fuel injection but it seems like the consensus is mixed on whether its worth it or not. If it is worth it, please let me know what has to be bought and done. Thanks guys.

 

[Madgyver]

do you need EFI?
a tuned stock 2barrell motorcraft carb will do you good.

 

[1969]

What are your engine specs and what carb are you running currently?

 

[BOBS 2 68S]

Once mine gets full oil pressure I am on the go. When it is really cold below zero I will let it idle a for a few minutes.
Driving a cold carbed car is a learned thing. A electric or automatic choke is a little more driver friendly.

 

[walker_creek]

I'm in the process of replacing EFI systems on my Bronco. I think EFI is a real game changer off road.
That being said, I'm getting ready to hop in my carb'd F-150 with hand choke to drive to work (25F) this morning. No plans to ever EFI that one.
Also something to consider: my Sniper1 didn't like to run cold either. I always had to let it run until the temp hit that 160F mark.

 

[bigmuddy]

Better offroad, marginally better MPG and way better reliability without the carb tuning. To be honest the only thing I like as well as EFI is a good running 2 barrel and that goes for offroad too.

Keep in mind, I haven't dealt with any of the aftermarket EFI versions but rather prefer the retrofit of the explorer EFI or mustang EFI components. Reliability is epic and the ease of picking up parts locally are key for me. With that said, the explorer computers are far cheaper and easier to find today than the mustang computers/ECM.

I liked the fact that I could jump in my bronco with EFI hit the key, check oil pressure and go and that is after it has set for several weeks or longer.

Currently installing a system on my 351w and hope it works as well as previous setup on a 5.0.

Good luck

 

[Shimmy]

i'm pretty novice when it comes to installing and working with EFI. i don't know enough to understand how the programming all works. in all fairness i haven't really researched it a lot. for that reason and for simplicity sake, i'm content with my carb setup. i guess i don't see the issue with a good carb setup. no issues cold starting here... i just follow the typical "cold engine" start ritual and it fires up. i don't daily drive my bronco but during the summer i pretty much take it out everyday and the carb has never bothered me.

does someone have a link (s) where we can learn more on the explorer setup that everyone seems to love? if i ever went EFI, im inclined to go with an "off the shelf" kit.

 

[pcf_mark]

You do not mention your skill level or experience with old cars. No judgement just trying to see where you are out before offering advice.

When you say wait 10-15 minutes is that how long it takes to run smooth enough and idle w/o help? Or are you waiting for the engine to show temperature on the gage?

It takes a few tries to get the technique for the cold start with a manual choke. A carb with an electric choke once set up is pretty good down to 25 degrees or so. If your truck runs good once warmed up I would get the choke situation looked at it will be way cheaper than EFI to fix that.

HOWEVER if you have the money EFI is the best modification after disc brakes. It is almost impossible to get it done under $1k enen if you do it yourself and scrounge for parts. You can get a lot of carb and choke work done for a few hundred and you may be just as happy.

When it comes to cold starts you can't beat EFI. Faster start, basically fire up and drive away like a modern car. You will still be COLD because the older cars warm up slower even with a 195 degree thermostat.

 

[Broncobowsher]

The sniper I installed 6 years ago took a bit of tuning (laptop on a cold morning) to dial in the cold start. Once I had it done, turn key, drop into gear, go. The self learning was fine for general driving, but it can't self learn cold drivability.

I have had plenty of carbs that had no issues with cold drivability. No reason to idle for 10-15 minutes before driving. Even in single digit temps, 30 seconds of warm up, go drive.

 

[Johnnyb]

To me it's a no-brainer. The carburetor and the three speed were the greatest weaknesses on the EB. Sure an auto light two barrel can be tuned and will work great, but you're always messing with it, the automatic choke if it has one, and if you backfire you often have to replace the power valve.
EFI is a true game changer, it won't flood off road, it'll start an idle at almost any temperature, it'll improve your fuel economy and make your EB run great!

-JB

 

[m_m70]

I have tried the aftermarket EFI kits (Edelbrock E-street, Fi-tech and Sniper 1) and honestly prefer my carbs over all of those. In 50 years of driving with carbs, never has a carburetor left me completely stranded. Not to say I never had issues (running rich, lean, crappy etc.) but the carb always got me home.
That's why my aftermarket throttle bodies sit on my shelf of shame and my small Holly sits on my 302 currently.

The aftermarket throttle bodies have their issues. Tons of threads just on this site on all of the brands!
They work great for some, not so great for others. Support??? Well some have had great experiences and some have not.

The Pro-Flow 4 looks interesting and haven't heard too many bad things. Cost would be a factor for me though but I'm old school. This is my hobby and my carb runs just fine

If I were to go EFI, it would be original stock explorer setup. It's the most work but the only one I've seen that no one has really complained about.

Whatever you decide, the folks on this site will help you get through any problems you may have!

Well that's my 2 cents (and it's worth exactly that)

 

[aveti]

I have tried the aftermarket EFI kits (Edelbrock E-street, Fi-tech and Sniper 1) and honestly prefer my carbs over all of those. In 50 years of driving with carbs, never has a carburetor left me completely stranded. Not to say I never had issues (running rich, lean, crappy etc.) but the carb always got me home.
That's why my aftermarket throttle bodies sit on my shelf of shame and my small Holly sits on my 302 currently.

The aftermarket throttle bodies have their issues. Tons of threads just on this site on all of the brands!
They work great for some, not so great for others. Support??? Well some have had great experiences and some have not.

The Pro-Flow 4 looks interesting and haven't heard too many bad things. Cost would be a factor for me though but I'm old school. This is my hobby and my carb runs just fine

If I were to go EFI, it would be original stock explorer setup. It's the most work but the only one I've seen that no one has really complained about.

Whatever you decide, the folks on this site will help you get through any problems you may have!

Well that's my 2 cents (and it's worth exactly that)

Thank you sir


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[blade]

Does anyone have experience with factory EFI manifold and injectors run using aftermarket copmputers, Like Megasquirt or others like that

 

[nvrstuk]

Hey guys, new Bronco owner here. Ive had my ‘74 for about little over a year and its a fun car but it just doesnt feel practical at all. I want to feel more confident driving it. I dont like that i have to wait 10-15 minutes for it warm up everytime i drive it. I want to just hop in, start the car and go. Any suggestions? Ive looked a little in fuel injection but it seems like the consensus is mixed on whether its worth it or not. If it is worth it, please let me know what has to be bought and done. Thanks guys.

1st- you wait 10-15 min for warm up or smoother running? Where do you live? What engine does it have? Put cardboard (painted black) in front of the radiator and it will warm up in 3 min.- seriously. Most of the cardboard haters from the mid '50's to the advent of EFI in DD's had black marine fabric covers made that would block air flow thru the rad.

Try it with cardboard for 3-4 days and see if that helps but will only shorten the time if the carb choke isn't adjusted properly.

2nd- who adjusted your choke? Is the engine running great or barely running while you're waiting for it to warm up (and is this the reason why)?

3rd- Must have been a 100 million carb'd vehicles on the road in cold climates that didn't need 10-15 min warm up time because their carbs were tuned properly or the owners wanted the interior warm before climbing in (Im guess you want it running properly not warm). You have to tell us IF the carb'd engine isn't running smoothly for the first 10-15 min and that's why you want EFI.

I'd stick with the carb. EFI was ONLY pushed upon the US public for EMISSIONS, not mileage gains. Poorly tuned carbs get bad mileage. ALL carbs pollute more than EFI.

BTW, I run SEFI but only for severe off-road andwhen not crawling I need it because of my fuel needs.

 

[Hallboss]

The sniper I installed 6 years ago took a bit of tuning (laptop on a cold morning) to dial in the cold start. Once I had it done, turn key, drop into gear, go. The self learning was fine for general driving, but it can't self learn cold drivability.

I have had plenty of carbs that had no issues with cold drivability. No reason to idle for 10-15 minutes before driving. Even in single digit temps, 30 seconds of warm up, go drive.

+2 - same experience with the Sniper I on my 302. It was actually interesting for me to learn a new-to-me technology and programming skill that I did not have before. History with carb’d mustangs and a built 63 Nova SS, I would also agree the carb is preferred if not interested in taking the time to dial in an EFI.

 

[DirtDonk]

Hey aveti. As the others have said, we need to know more about you and the bronco.
Is it all stock original?
Is it possibly from a high altitude perhaps?
Is it running a really free breathing dual exhaust, maybe with headers?
Is the choke fully functioning?
Has it been tuned up recently
What type of ignition/distributor, and what is your timing set to?
Have you checked for vacuum leaks yet?
Is it running any other other aftermarket equipment on the engine?
Is it lifted with big tires?

And lastly, what is your reasoning for waiting so long? Does it run like crap, or do you just like to see the gauge move? Or are you waiting for it to come down off of a high idle perhaps?

Any and/or all of these can affect how the engine runs when cold. And your perception of how it’s running.

 

[ntsqd]

It doesn't appear to be a concern here, but one thing not mentioned in this thread about EFI that many of those who have made the change to EFI have commented on (to me anyway) is that the carb'd engine was sometimes marginally cooled by the biggest/best radiator that they could put in the truck, but the EFI engine never seems to push that boundary. Conversely it seems to me that EFI engines warm up faster.

Wildly changing altitude is my own biggest reason for wanting EFI. I've now done two trips where we have started at -281 ft (below sea level) and finished at 12,400 ft (above sea level) in ONE day. EFI won't give me sea level power at 12,400 ft., but I also don't have to lean out the jetting one or more times during the drive to keep the engine running well.

SEFI can cost more to do because it is a better system overall. It may not be better for tuning to a 500+ HP 460ci SBF, but when the engine's build is reasonable and within the range of the OEM ECU's ability to cope it is the better system. At least until "Motec" becomes part of your daily vocabulary......

For a low dollar EFI conversion, which nets you effectively an "electronic carb", use a GM TBI system. It is a simple installation, and it is not a very smart computer, but I have had a GM vehicle with a TBI on it up to that 12,400 ft elevation and the system worked well. I was also caught in a white-out with that vehicle and it started in that cold just fine. I think that the TBI's got a bad name because most expected SEFI-like performance and behavior from the TBI and it just isn't capable of doing that. If you're under ~300 HP and just want a "carb" that you don't have to mess with I don't think that you can beat an adapted GM TBI.

That said, some choose an aftermarket EFI system because of what they'll learn in getting it to run correctly.

 

[73azbronco]

or, quadrajet with auto altitude compensator, with the automatic part removed. I adjust for altitude with a 1/4 turn of a screw for every 4,000ft or so.

That said, I would hold on EFI, they are resolving all the first gen "simple" EFI stuff like sniper. I'm waiting a few years to get back into trying it out. I helped my friend with a sniper 1, nightmare is the one word I would use.

I'm hoping a few years from now, folks come on and say yeah, my sniper 2 (or 3) has been working fine for 5 years. Thats what I want to here.

I was a big fan of original explorer efi, but you can't fight 30 year old heat soaked insulation and plastics, it breaks.

 

[1969]

https://howellefi.com/product/hf302-ford-302-cid-tbi-conversion-kit/

Howell has been around for a long time and also offers an efi kit utilizing parts from the factory gm stuff. I’m strongly considering this or the Pro Flo 4 when the time comes.

 

[serial car restorer]

I'm considering the Howell TBI as well. It's probably not what I'd want on a hot, modified engine, but for a bone-stock 302 reports are that the everyday drivability is good. I've heard that the open-loop results on a dyno aren't great, but closed loop (with the system adjusting based on the oxygen sensor input) is fine.