Next generation rodders coming up will look at a carbed engine the way we do at a flathead six: nostalgic antique, interesting to look at, but wouldn't want to drive one.

 

I'm still using a 59 AB flathead with an Edelbrock 4 X 2 manifold. It started out with 4 97's but it got changed to Excel EFI a few years ago. I ran it on a engine dyno and it put out 200 HP on pump gas with all of the pumps, alternator, a/c compressor and belts running. It hasn't gotten many hours on it but hope to have it finished but this time next year. The nice thing about taking so long to complete is you tend to forget over the years how much it actually costs to do the things that have been done. My money is on EFI.

Good luck

 

How many c.i. is your flathead? I'm guessing it's close to 300?

 

You're pretty close, 296. 3/8 x 3/8, Isky 400, Edelbrock heads and intake. The top one is with the 97's and the bottom is the way it was on the dyno but unlike the picture it did have all of the garbage on it as I wanted to see what it would have on the street.

 

I have a 97 Explorer EFI engine in my 56. I pulled the whole engine and dash harness, ecu, etc from a donor vehicle. I bought the factory service manuals and plan to sort out what wiring I don't need, have the ECU flashed (to load my own tunes and remove anti-theft), and hopefully have a clean setup.

You can easily buy a wiring harness and ECU of the ODBI engine to get it running. Saves a lot of hassle. I do not know of anyone selling trimmed harnesses of the ODBII setup. If someone knows, please speak up!

I chose to stick with the factory EFI for serviceability. I will be able to get most if not all of my parts without having to order from a speed shop or worse, have an aftermarket part something that is no longer made.

 

I'm gonna order one of these kits. Just cant decide if i want the power adder version or not. $995 without a fuel system
FiTech Fuel Injection

 

Also found holley has this coming out soon

https://www.holley.com/products/fuel...on/sniper_efi/

 

I don't care for the looks of the Holley version but, I think these things will sell really nicely!

wideband O2 and all self contained! sounds like a win win.

 

What was this post originally about?? Oh yea! Carb or FI. If you pull a running EFI package from donor vehicle, there is the bulk of your expense. I put the 5.0 setups in early Broncos. There is a ton of information about doing these swaps. I mean a ton. Every detail you need to know is out there on plenty of forums and personal websites. No real difference swapping into an EB or any other older Ford car or truck. Using the existing wiring harness works just fine. Its a labor of love to cut out everything not needed and use. But saves a ton of scratch. It will also get you familiar with what everything is and its function. You can get down to only a few wires that connect into your trucks harness. It basically becomes a near stand alone system, that doesnt put any burden on your stock wiring. Your electrical system only has to power up a couple small relays and its game on! With the left over wiring, you can add some relays for headlights and any other high load items added to your vehicle. The stock gas tank works just fine. I modified the small low pressure in tank pump to work with stock sending unit and bolted the high pressure pump to frame from donor vehicle. With some help from 80's EFI donor trucks and FSB's for extra parts, you can just about make a bolt in fuel system with little modifications to parts. Most of the full size Broncos from 1986 thru 1989 still use the small opening for sending units in gas tanks. Not to complicated to modify one to drop in your stock tank. Then you can use the newer fuel lines and easily route them as needed.

I could go on forever, but I think you get what direction I would go. But this is just my opinion. Others may vary. Use at your own discretion. May not be available in all states. Void where prohibited.