OK, I was in the begining process of building up a small block. But after reading a lot of posts here, I have just about decided to go the crate engine route, nothing outrageous, maybe 350-400HP. I am able to build one up, but I can't get past having a warranty. So the next question is the top end. Figured all along on a carb set up of some type, then I came across a 95 LT1 Fuel Injection unit for about $100. No wire harness or fuel pump etc, just the induction unit on top. I have an idea of the cost of a good harness set up, but is this a worthwhile project. ALready into redoing the car the best way I can, got a 200R4 trans, and this thought has me curious, but how much of a problem is it to get it all set up. And when I get finished, was it worth the trouble? Thanks.

 

Have you figured in the cost of some type of ECM and sensors to run this?

 

A well tuned carb imo is good enough
EFI is great on cold starts and altitude changes
Far as power/mpg too close to even worry about imo
Up to what you want on top of your engine and budget

 

A Toyota Camry is good enough, too.

 

I was on the EFI bandwagon before I learned how to really work my QJet.

If I had a money tree, EFI would be fun to play with.

The $200 or so it takes to learn and really tweak a QuadraJet is a far greater value than the savings. I doubt many people on this forum daily drive their C3s. For those who do, I'd be more inclined to say that EFI is worthwhile. My 78 is my third car. It does not see significant elevation changes and makes one long trip a year. I will long be dead before I see a recovery in the cost of an EFI system - and I'm not one foot in the grave yet.

 

Probably would not get a $ payback. But I wonder what it does for emissions, driveability, and fuel economy. The payback may be in the enjoyment driving the car.

 

Recovery of cost for EFI? IF you expect to make money you're in the wrong hobby... We do this for fun. EFI is fun.

 

For the last 10 years my DD has been a 1993 nissan 300zx. I've learned a lot about fuel injection from that car and it seems that once it's set up, it's set up. Carbs always seem to need attention. Granted the Z is not a vette but the concept of FI is the same. I plan on driving my 78 a lot, that's what it's for. My son wanted to know where I got this pile of cash, said I didn't have it yet, but if I start looking for stuff before I need it, I can wait for some good deals. With some of the aftermarket harnesses, ecus, fuel pump set ups etc, this might be the way I end up going. Have to say, looking under the hood of a C-3 with this type of set up seems to fire me up. And then to be able to say, " YEA I DID THAT", that's the icing on the cake. That, and no gas leaking out of the throttle shafts!

 

The LT1 intake isn't a great starting point for use on any other small block. There is no coolant passages, thermostat housing or distributor mounting on that intake. It used the cam mounted distributor and reverse cooling with the coolant going in and out of the front of the block. You have to drill a distributor hole and use a tapered shim to mount it. Then you have to drill and tap holes over the head coolant passages and use nipples with hoses to a remote thermostat housing.

It should not be too difficult to do if you have a good understanding of fuel injection systems. You can build or buy a wire harness. You can use a GM computer to keep the costs down.

I personally would use an aftermarket manifold such as a Holley Stealth Ram assuming it fits under the hood. I think it does but I don't know for sure. I would also use a 24x crank sensor kit and use a GM LS based computer. I'd get a LS1 harness and modify if to fit the engine. You get a good computer and a good coil near plug ignition system. These guys have the parts to put the 24X reluctor onto the front of a small block.

http://www.eficonnection.com/eficonnection/24xSBC.aspx

I'd also use a 4L60e to get the computer controlled shifting and converter lockup. It's very nice to just adjust shift curves on a computer screen and have the transmission shift exactly how you want it to.

 

That is some of the info I was looking for. I will check it out but drilling a dist hole doesn't sound like fun to me. I thanks you for the info and while I am pretty sure I will be going down the FI route, it probably won't be with this LT1 set up. I will check out the Holley Stealth though. Thanks.

 

Ya, do a bit of internet searching. You should be able to find some web sites or forums with details and pictures on converting the LT1 intake. At one time, there was even a few people selling the shim needed. I'm not positive on this, but I think the LT1 intake has to be matched to Vortec heads or heads with raised intake ports.

The nice part about a Holley is you should be able to use the LT1 throttle body and injectors on it so your purchase wasn't a complete loss.

 

IF anything the LT1 intake is short on an L98 engine, which is basically what I have, '89 roller truck 4 bolt main block, 355, L98 #113 heads, and so I went from L98 type induction to the LT1 intake, to match that up, first off I ditched the EGR crap in back with a few sawzall maneuvers, the passages being open at that point were back filled with Plaster of Paris, hardened overnight sealed smooth at both ends....then a donor intake was sacrificed for it's HEI mounting capability, cuts made, and TIG welded in place, then the tops of each intake passage needed building up a tad to seal the tops of the L98 heads.....been on my car for some years now, never missed a lick, much simpler to work on than any L98 setup, nothing rong with the L98 so much but I was chasing a bad ROLLER CAM, the cause of an INTERMITTENT rough/bad idle.....drove me krazy for years.....sometimes it was smooth as silk....

since going for a stock L98 cam, thinking of fuel economy about the time jerk was elected the first time, the engine has been smooth as silk throughout, but then changing the cam, I decided to clean up the intake and paint it shock RED, other wise the pictures in one of my sites below, are the way the car is today.....


The water passages in front were drilled, bungs welded, fittings put on, and hoses to a remote stat housing up front....temp sensor in the pass side cylinder head.....in the rear there are two pipes one on each side, they are joined into a T and come forward to the suck side of the heater circuit into the pump, just like a stock L98....I figger that must aid cooling somehow, so I not going against the GM guys on this.....

 

Sorry to hear that

Yes...put a want ad in the C4 parts for sale sec. There is a guy who converts and sells these converted intakes real reasonable complete they come out pretty decent.

 

A Toyota Camry is not good enough. Not even close.

Scott

 

Just like a carb.

 

Nothing wrong with a carb once you learn how to tune it properly with a A/F gauge