Can anyone tell me exactly what the computer controls? Can I eliminate it completely? Does it control the lights etc?

 

there are threads on here about swapping to a carbed engine,a search will save others time typing. The main problem you may run into is the transmission. Are you swapping your tranny also? If your tranny is computer controlled,you will need to buy an expensive stand alone computer or your tranny won't work correctly.

 

The main things it controls are the fuel/air mixture ratio and the ignition timing advance but there are also EGR gases involved at times as well as a few other things.

Some years & models also have computer-controlled transmissions....

 

do the search first. if you still have questions you'd have to give up a lot more info than "302 FI to 351 carb".

 

Just to clarify, a standalone trans controller is NOT needed in a carb swap. My carbed F350 in my sig is running with the factory ecm controlling the shifts with no problems. All I did was add a TPS switch to the carb (Holley makes a kit for their carbs) and hooked it into the factory tps wiring. There are other things that may or may not be needed to be done in a carb swap depending on the year of the truck. Low pressure vs. hi pressure fuel pumps being one. The lights and gauges are not controlled by the ecm though.

 

If the computer is not fried:
you will need a fuel pressure regulator to bring the pressure from 40 psi to 7 psi, (assuming your not using a manual fuel pump), you will also need the older distributor (vacume advanced) and the electronic ignition box that mounts on the fender, (also the harness to power the box and go to the distributor).

If the computer is fried:
You need everything above except the pressure regulator, because you will need a a electronic 7 psi fuel pump (assuming your not using a manual fuel pump). If you use the 7 psi pump. or manual pump you need to take the high pressure cause they won't push/suck the fuel through it.

I converted a 4.9 with a bad motor & fried computer to a 5.0 carb. I had a BW T-18 trans (manual, 4 speed)

The computer controls the air/fuel mixture, timing, injectors, and fuel pumps