First test miles on EFI
Posted by Zyncon@reddit | projectcar | View on Reddit | 31 comments
1971 Duster Twister.
Last month we pulled the original 2 barrel intake and carb off this car and threw it onto a 71 Dart we're restoring.
Figured since we were already halfway into this 318, we might as well switch things up. Ended up going with a 4 barrel intake and a FiTech setup.
Three weeks later, it’s up and running. Took it on a 4 hour road trip to break everything in. Cruising 75 mph at about 2,600 RPM. Sitting right around 192° in the hot sun. Everything seems to be going alright.
I know EFI on old Mopars is a love it or hate it thing. Knock on wood, but right now it's wonderful. We'll see how it goes.
alex053@reddit
Did you change the fuel pump or use the surge tank they sell? I’m considering going Fuel Injection instead of buying a wide band and a bunch of jets and needles and trying to dial my carb in
Zyncon@reddit (OP)
We used a tank kit that included an EFI ready tank from Tanks Inc, fuel pump, and sending unit.
https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Tanks-TCR11D-T-KIT-1970-76-Dart-Duster-Fuel-Injection-Gas-Tank,528625.html?srsltid=AfmBOorpZgWIKL77lc8lr7LqfreU5WdG8JUjbZXYPdRLFxt0dDFT_Y_O
alex053@reddit
100% chance they don’t have one for my car. Lol
MuhThugga@reddit
Holley makes a retrofit kit to convert an old tank to an in-tank pump. I don't know how well it works, but it is something to look into. Otherwise, Tanks, Inc is the way to go on vehicles without an OE option.
Don't use FiTech's mini tank setup. It is why a lot of people decide EFI sucks and go back to a carb.
Squidking1000@reddit
How it works is (at least on GM A bodies with the shallow tank) is you can starve the engine of fuel on demand if you have less then 1/2 a tank and floor it or turn hard. Pretty much useless. I had a newer rust free tank so tried the sniper in tank pump kit then gave up and bought a tanks inc tank and totally satisfied, you can drive like an idiot down to 1/8 of a tank no stumbles. Turns out float bowls hide poor tank design very effectively.
Zyncon@reddit (OP)
While we were doing our little road trip I noticed we were near empty on the gauge. Before the tank swap my gauge was a little wonky so I figured it was a little wrong but we stopped and got gas anyway. Filled it all the way up, took 12.6 gallons. Thing was damn near bone dry and we were still slamming back roads doing 75 without issues.
100% recommend getting a tank designed for EFI and not converting your original. At the end of the day, the tank kit was 550 dollars for everything. Small price to pay for reassurance and peace of mind.
Squidking1000@reddit
Yep, I was debating buying a fresh tank and cutting it up and welding in a sump and end of the day the Tanks inc tank was basically the same price with no work. If you have a car you can’t get a FI tank for I guess you have no choice but if they got one highly recommend.
RuddyOpposition@reddit
What was your fuel mileage?
Zyncon@reddit (OP)
I posted the setup on an A Body Mopar group and all the older owners in there absolutely freaked out saying “EFI BAD. TRASH. PAPER WEIGHT. YOURE GOING TO DIE DRIVING IT NOW. CARB SUPERIOR. YOU RUINED THE CAR”.
We’ve had a 6 barrel FiTech setup on a Cuda for roughly 2 years now. I’d hop in that car and drive cross country without a second thought. A lot of the fear and issues sorta sound like user error and bad quality parts.
Syscrush@reddit
I love almost all A-bodies but I really love this one.
What size wheels and tires are those? The steelies look great and larger than stock without that common error of going too big with low-pro tires that look out of place on the car. The fitment on the rear also looks great, which is rare on a Duster.
SleestackMcGee@reddit
For me, going EFI is about being able to turn the key, hot or cold, and the damn thing starting right away. How's that been?
Zyncon@reddit (OP)
All you have to do is slightly bump the key and it fired up instantly. Idles set at 750, cars extremely happy.
SleestackMcGee@reddit
That's what I'm talking about. "I flooded it." "It's vapor locked."Screw all that.
Remarkable-Will-3041@reddit
I went with a FiTech mean street years ago. Works great, the only thing I had go wrong was one of the injectors stuck open. Luckily I caught it quick, and they sent me a replacement within a few days.
Mean-Veterinarian647@reddit
Man,I’m trying to think if I even have a dwell meter anymore. Have to break out feeler gauges that haven’t seen points in decades.
TBAGG1NS@reddit
Oooo a Twister Duster
chuck-u-farley-@reddit
I sure hope you have better luck than I did with FiTech….. for 8 months ran great….. Then issue after issue after issue…. Customer service was zero help Finally gave up and reinstalled a carb.
Top_Classroom9264@reddit
What happened to the rider side door?
Zyncon@reddit (OP)
Someone reversed in to it at a mall back in 84.
jlboygenius@reddit
It reminds me of those old match box cars that flipped the door/bumper around when they were hit to make it look like damage. They came out around then.
Hot Wheels Crack-Ups
Phen117@reddit
Was thinking about getting the holley sniper kit for my 91 318, that would include the hypserspark system so I can change the timing, but I'm a ways away from getting fuel system stuff lol
Zyncon@reddit (OP)
Funny story. We're still running the original points distributor from 1971.
That's next on the list of changes. Should've been done before the EFI but we really wanted to knock that out before a huge show we have coming up later this month.
While on the phone with FiTech asking about doing the swap with points, the guy sounded so confused wondering why the hell we'd do that lmao. Reassured him it was temporary for the test run and we'd swap it away right after.
Phen117@reddit
Oh wow lol, yeah I mean I'm sure I could run the same distributor on mine but not sure tbh. The engine is getting fully rebuilt so idk what all I can use apart from original brackets and such.
Ready_Jury6144@reddit
4hr test ride?!
I’ve broken down 3x on 2 MILE test rides. That thing is golden
Zyncon@reddit (OP)
It started out with “Let’s just go to the post office and back” and then it went to “Well.. We didn’t die. Let’s go get lunch” and then we just kept going and going.
Ready_Jury6144@reddit
lol. Sounds like a win
aheartworthbreaking@reddit
What happened to the door?
Zyncon@reddit (OP)
Back in 1984 the original owner was at a mall and someone put their car in reverse and sent it right in to the door.
MuhThugga@reddit
Nice. I have had FiTech on my El Camino for almost ten years now. There was a learning curve in the beginning, but the system has been pretty reliable.
FoFoJoe@reddit
Very cool. Any big surprises so far, good or bad?
alex053@reddit
100% chance they don’t have one for my car. Lol