Tbi,efi for sbc400?

C.Berry

C.Berry

Bad News
Joined
Aug 10, 2008
Location
Blacksburg, Va
which fuel system would be easiest and most reliable for swapping in my 79 to get rid of the old qjet? Seen a setup from edelbroke for $400 that’s suppose to be simple and affective or is junkyard parts best option???
 
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Propane isn’t option right now an I wanna get back on the trails ASAP but also not trying to have my junk in a ball of flames if it flops or rolls...
 
Honestly, go aftermarket. I went with junkyard tbi on my 78 f150 back in 2007. Back then there were only a couple of aftermarket efi (tbi clones) and they were 2000 to 2500 dollars, I pieced together a junkyard tbi for around 7 to 800, that was all the sensors, harness, injectors and a new adapter plate for the intake plus the fuel pump and new fuel lines. Then there's the labor of thinning out the harness which I did myself but I'm pretty good at wiring and it still took me two nights to get it how I wanted.

It would run OK with a stock 5.7 chip but if you want to Max the performance then you'll need to learn to tune it and buy the stuff to do that which cost me another 2 to 300 in 2009.

Now you can buy a self learning Fitech system for 1000 to 1200 dollars and it's mostly self contained. The only real reason to go with the junkyard system for basically the same cost is the satisfaction of being able to say "I did it myself. "

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The only other good thing about junkyard efi is you can get parts anywhere, including Harlan. Propane or aftermarket is harder. That is the one good thing. An aftermarket system will most likely support more HP than the stock one though.

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Tim C said:
Honestly, go aftermarket. I went with junkyard tbi on my 78 f150 back in 2007. Back then there were only a couple of aftermarket efi (tbi clones) and they were 2000 to 2500 dollars, I pieced together a junkyard tbi for around 7 to 800, that was all the sensors, harness, injectors and a new adapter plate for the intake plus the fuel pump and new fuel lines. Then there's the labor of thinning out the harness which I did myself but I'm pretty good at wiring and it still took me two nights to get it how I wanted.

It would run OK with a stock 5.7 chip but if you want to Max the performance then you'll need to learn to tune it and buy the stuff to do that which cost me another 2 to 300 in 2009.

Now you can buy a self learning Fitech system for 1000 to 1200 dollars and it's mostly self contained. The only real reason to go with the junkyard system for basically the same cost is the satisfaction of being able to say "I did it myself. "

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I’ve read to stay away from fitech efi but I’m thinking a self learning system is gonna a my best route bc I’m terrible with wiring and electronic stuff! I’m ok with not saying “I did it myself” honestly as long as it performs properly! Seems most the swaps I’ve read from boneyard tbi parts they are making it out like it’s easiest swap ever but I’m not agreeing that it will be bc of computer part and having to tune that after the install!
 
My junkyard has $50 all ya can’t carry days also so I could score basically all the parts I need on one of those days, there are tons of tbi 350s out this way with low miles as well! Kind of a delimma bc I hate to hire someone to do my fuel system bc I can’t reassure I’m doing the wiring correct! Safety is key bc I’ll have kids with me often in this rig!
 
@Tim C thanks that’s real world info that I can use!
 
Yea I got most of my parts on a $20 dollar all u can carry day, but it was still 100 for the carb to tbi adapter, 100 for fuel pump, plus extras that nickle and dime. And then there's tuning, you'd need a chip burner, that's 100, you'd need to solder on your new computer to be able to use tumblr chips or pay someone to do it, aftermarket is just easier now. Like I said for a couple hundred extra you can do it simply. If the kits were still 2000+ it might be worth it but it's not.

I just threw Fitch out there as an example, most of the basic self learning systems are in the 900 to 1200 range. You can Bolt one on in a weekend. It would be more labor to DIY, I say labor because even if you DIY it's still taking up your free time.

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Yeah that is very true on free time! I may look for a Holley sniper used somewhere! Fitech seems to have quality stuff gonna do some more research before counting them out bc they ehave a setup for a 400 for roughly $800 next in line is $1200
 
Holley Sniper or Terminator if you want a carb-replacement type unit. Good topic for a research project, but make sure you realize that choosing one brand over another to save a few hundred bucks is likely the worst decision you can make. Pick a system that is flexible, reliable, decent software, etc., which will automatically rule out most of the cheaper stuff.

EFI retrofit systems are definitely a "get what you pay for" product. By the time you do the research and spend the time/money to piece together junkyard parts and tuning options, you'll kick your own ass for not spending the money on an aftermarket retrofit in the first place. This is why these systems exist, else people would just sell retrofit kits made from OEM parts.
 
Yeah def have to do some research on these retrofit units bc I’ve never dreamed of swapping a Carb off of a old engine until now lol carbs rule unless ya off-roading...
 
something's not right with that description of the Edelbrock for sale on the SCW website. If you search the product number, that is for ONLY the distributor system. Their picture shows the EFI setup.....but that ain't right. I thought $400 was kind of cheap for an EFI setup.
 
Subzilla said:
something's not right with that description of the Edelbrock for sale on the SCW website. If you search the product number, that is for ONLY the distributor system. Their picture shows the EFI setup.....but that ain't right. I thought $400 was kind of cheap for an EFI setup.
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Yeah I noticed that after the fact of posting it that’s edelbroke for ya I guess. I’ve looked into the Holley sniper system and it’s pretty badass but seems I’ll need extra stuff to do it as well as the kit tho! At 1200 for system then extrasI’d be roughly 1700 into fuel system which is lil more than I was wanting to spend honestly. The wiring on the sniper is cake work even my electrical ignorant ass could wire it up without issues I do believe!
 
Back around 2006, I was looking at swapping the carb off the 351 that was in my Ranger cab truck and replacing it with an EFI system. I ended up buying a complete 5.0 motor out of a Mustang and swapping it in for less than the cost of an aftermarket EFI system.
 
A few years ago when an EFI system was $2000 to $ 2500 I decided the use a TBI to replace the carb on a 454. Bought a used TBI setup on eBay and ordered A Howell harness. It works well for about $1000 I would look at a new EFI now due to lower price and tune ability. Converted a 350 to propane many years ago. It is simple and stores well. Power loss is something I could never make up for even with changing heads for higher compression and a new cam. It always start right up after setting for long periods of time and the oil doesn’t get dirty.
 
To echo what @drkelly said, buy an entire wrecked car/truck with the appropriate intake. Install, thin harness, add a $80 fuel pump and you're done.
Sell the rest of the ride for scrap and dang near break even.
 
drkelly said:
Back around 2006, I was looking at swapping the carb off the 351 that was in my Ranger cab truck and replacing it with an EFI system. I ended up buying a complete 5.0 motor out of a Mustang and swapping it in for less than the cost of an aftermarket EFI system.
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While sitting on the river bank I was considering finding a big block to swap but damn I love the sbc400 I’m def gonna give this some thought tho I know of a few tbi engines at bone yard if I could score a 94-95 454 tbi I may have to go that route,would most likely be cheaper in long run and maybe I’ll throw the 400 on the stand for the K5 later on down the road for my sons trail rig!
Jody Treadway said:
To echo what @drkelly said, buy an entire wrecked car/truck with the appropriate intake. Install, thin harness, add a $80 fuel pump and you're done.
Sell the rest of the ride for scrap and dang near break even.
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If I used manifold and rest of tbi system off donor could I just use a painless wiring harnes for tbi and it retire. starter, lights etc? Yeah “thinning” a harness is something I’m not extremely confident with,I’d be better to start from scratch! I’ve setup a 76 blazer with the fuse box from painless back in the day! Unless I have to have the donors harness this makes a swap much more doable in my case!
 
moldman05 said:
A few years ago when an EFI system was $2000 to $ 2500 I decided the use a TBI to replace the carb on a 454. Bought a used TBI setup on eBay and ordered A Howell harness. It works well for about $1000 I would look at a new EFI now due to lower price and tune ability. Converted a 350 to propane many years ago. It is simple and stores well. Power loss is something I could never make up for even with changing heads for higher compression and a new cam. It always start right up after setting for long periods of time and the oil doesn’t get dirty.
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I really wanted to go propane but power loss I noticed on it bothered me as well and the tanks take up a lot of space no carbon or crap in ya oil is nice Im gonna change the oil and have more pedal tho lol
 
I would start with how much power you want and then see what engines qualify while considering the cost of each. I’ m old school but the LS motors are very attractive. Availability of engines and accessories is phenomenal.
 
C.Berry said:
While sitting on the river bank I was considering finding a big block to swap but damn I love the sbc400 I’m def gonna give this some thought tho I know of a few tbi engines at bone yard if I could score a 94-95 454 tbi I may have to go that route,would most likely be cheaper in long run and maybe I’ll throw the 400 on the stand for the K5 later on down the road for my sons trail rig!

If I used manifold and rest of tbi system off donor could I just use a painless wiring harnes for tbi and it retire. starter, lights etc? Yeah “thinning” a harness is something I’m not extremely confident with,I’d be better to start from scratch! I’ve setup a 76 blazer with the fuse box from painless back in the day! Unless I have to have the donors harness this makes a swap much more doable in my case!
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I was thinking (for a 400 being an old school SBC) Tuned Port Injection would be an easy install for your application. Plenty of them out there, Painless makes a kit for TPI motors too
 
Jody Treadway said:
I was thinking (for a 400 being an old school SBC) Tuned Port Injection would be an easy install for your application. Plenty of them out there, Painless makes a kit for TPI motors too
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With tpi on my older engine I need the maf system and pre 86 to have a bolt on manifold correct? I had not considered tpi bc I’m not familiar with it but gonna search for what all needs pulled from donor for the tpi to work in my setup Thanks
 
I'm a Ford guy, so do your research.
But I'm 99.9% sure the TPI intake will bolt your cylinder heads without issue. Then use all of the TPI stuff from there up. Old school SBC stuff interchanges across the board very easily
 
Wow some quick reading and car-parts.com tpi is much more affordable and if I have options in a sense! If I go pre 86 I need maf, 87+is no maf it’s basically same things needed for tbi tho unless I’m missing something and if I use the 305 tpi runners I’ll get better low end torque makings list for reference and to maybe help someone in future even if I don’t go this route
O2 sensor
Manifold
Throttle body
ECM
TPS
Cts
Maf* depending on year
Runners
Fuel rail
Fuel pump
Painless harness
if I keep the crap heads I have in it I have to modify the manifold just a tiny bit from what’s Unc seeing so I’m gonna look into diff heads since I have 883s on my 400 as of now smdh, or would it be best to get all the tpi parts off a 5.7 donor and then Just use 305 runners? Believe I read that right also haven’t seen if the tpi works with my hei dizzy or if that’s another piece to use from donor? I really like the tpi simplicity and look even tho I’m old school and love the carb look. They are very similar to tbi tho major concerns I have would be If I have to get a computer “tuned” for my specific setup? Haven’t got in depth into the tpi reading yet just a quick glance
 
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As far as I know, the older gm stuff is all done with chip programming and swapping. I'm sure someone somewhere has a canned tune for a 400, or simple enough to rescale a 305/350 fuel map for a 400 or alternately, scale the injector flow rate and/or scale the fuel pressure. You might still want to get it tuned if you scale the injectors or pressure.. I'd offer to help you out with that if you were closer to me.

or you could use the tpi intake, injectors, & sensors with the kit that @Scooter402 is building and keep the hei for ignition. (Basically a stand alone EFI board)

who was it on the board that I saw was chipping older gm pcms?
 
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