I am doing a mild build on a FE in a 72 F250 4X2 that I have owned since new. It is a working truck that is used to tow campers, big boats, and an occasional tractor or backhoe over the Sierras. (From sea level to 9k feet altitude in 60 miles.) Rusty tells me I should expect upwards of 460 ft lbs of torque over the 2 to 4k RPM range I will be operating in, which is a big improvement over the stock 390 I am now running.

People have been telling me that EFI is much better than a carburetor so I have been studying the Holley EFI kits. Holley’s throttle body is around $1500, their multiport is maybe half again. Expensive, but possible – I just do not want to be disappointed with the results.

My question is what can I expect this upgrade to do for my truck – both loaded and empty? Will it give me more power than a well tuned Holley 4 bbl? What about fuel mileage? Is this a change you would make?

 

Being that you will be going through some major altitude differences, I would go with EFI. It will be better able to compensate for the change in air pressure than a carb could, and will allow you to make the most power at any time. Also, driveability and tip-in will greatly improve, so if you are inching a loaded trailer back to a dock, you will have greater control.