Fuel Injection Carb question:

OZ40

Active Member
Hey folks , a technical question. In the spring I am going to add a FiTech 2-BBl FI Carb to my 1960 Buick LeSabre flat top w/364-2BBL /Dynaflow. The question is this: How will the system work (or not) on a car such as mine which still has the 'pedal start' ignition system? The system requires an electric fuel pump which comes with the complete kit. Has anyone out there done such an F I carb set-up on a pedal start car? Thanks, :coffee:
Oz
 
Simplest is to use a push button. That is what I did on the '50.
BTW, I believe you will be glad you went FI. I am.

Ben
 
Thanks for the info Ben. Was it a choice or a matter of the unit functioning properly that made you go from pedal start to a push button?
 
Thanks for the info Ben. Was it a choice or a matter of the unit functioning properly that made you go from pedal start to a push button?

The actual switch for the "pedal" start is on the carburetor. There is none on the throttle body. One could be adapted if one chose too. I like easy. Hence a push button.

Ben
 
The actual switch on the carb. is vacuum. I would think you could find a vacuum switch sensitive to vacuum. This switch would be normally closed till the engine starts and then vacuum would open the switch. The first switch could be an arm type switch that is activated by throttle movement. Then if there is no vacuum the electricity will move to the starter relay. This way you could keep your pedal start.
 
If you do this post a lot of pictures cause we all like pictures as they say a thousand words ... and they go with beer and chips too ...
 
Finishing up cruzin' season here in Michigan. This is slated to be a spring project.
 
OZ40 ... your idea about the efi setup looks pretty good and thanks for the link ... however, make sure their brain has the capability to accept spark curve firing advancement input capabilities. To get the true advantages and street drivability out of a conversion is to make sure it can accept a crank sensor and individual coil packs setup. Not just a system with a WOT brain, exhaust sensor and venturi based injectors. That is the kinda system that GM had when they introduce efi in the eighties using a gutted carb as a throttle body and no advancement capabilities. Also make sure they have preprogrammed workable fuel maps curves already preprogrammed or a on line group that can compare notes and out comes/tweaks so you are not spending a life and soul sucking amount of time inputting this into your on-board ...
 
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Thanks, I really appreciate the info. The advertising/promotional stuff for these type of units make it sound like: remove 4 bolts, remove old carb, place new unit on manifold, reattach 4 bolts and hook up fuel line. Obviously it's a lot more involved than that.
 
OZ40, don't let it worry you too much. I used a modified 1990s GM system on my straight eight. Started of with it NOT controlling the ignition. Ran well. I decided I wanted the system to do it all. My distributor has been modified with a delco pickup installed, no vacuum advance, the ignition module mounted to the cowl and it works perfectly. I could not be more satisfied.
Where is home for you?

Ben
 
I'm in the Detroit area. My garage space is very limited as is my mechanical skill set. I plan on doing this in the Spring and having the same shop that air-bagged the car do the work. So basically I will print out all these responses and deliver them to him for reference and just to give him a heads up. I'm concerned about the pedal-start on the car and how it will interact. Thanks.
 
I'm in the Detroit area. My garage space is very limited as is my mechanical skill set. I plan on doing this in the Spring and having the same shop that air-bagged the car do the work. So basically I will print out all these responses and deliver them to him for reference and just to give him a heads up. I'm concerned about the pedal-start on the car and how it will interact. Thanks.

May I make a suggestion? Install the unit you choose and get it running. Worry about the pedal start later. A push button simplifies things. After ten years, I don't miss a thing.

You might check on Affordable Fuel Injection. They are not far from you. Check out their website.

Ben
 
... yes but remember just getting something to squirt fuel into your manifold electronically alone is really no better than your foot and a good solid carb. Without matched injectors, psi settings, brain capabilities for both efficient fuel mapping changes and real time spark control you will never have control and maximum efficient use of your system. Remember, there are a lot of guys out there that will not walk but run to an idea all the while worshiping the concept and yet in the end eventually weeping from the final results and disappointments ... sound familiar anyone ?
 
A friend of mine has this system on his 61 so I am monitoring his emotions and he is very satisfied to date so far, but as I said, this is next Spring's potential project.
 
... yes but remember just getting something to squirt fuel into your manifold electronically alone is really no better than your foot and a good solid carb. Without matched injectors, psi settings, brain capabilities for both efficient fuel mapping changes and real time spark control you will never have control and maximum efficient use of your system. Remember, there are a lot of guys out there that will not walk but run to an idea all the while worshiping the concept and yet in the end eventually weeping from the final results and disappointments ... sound familiar anyone ?

David, I assure you, The throttle body EFI I have on my straight eight outperforms any carb . Consistently. Any gas. Any altitude. No problems. Almost 20,000 miles. But then , I just have to please myself.

Try one. You might like it!

Three hundred miles yesterday. Into central Dallas. Nary a hiccup.

Ben
 
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