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Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2014
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From: Carnation, Wah
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2014
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From: Saskatchewan Canada
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2015
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From: Candy Mountain
I have been down that rabbit hole.
I converted an 88 F-150 with a 5.8/C6 to a carb set up, and drove it for years. It needed minor attention often, but never had any major problems. Mileage was terrible.
I would only do this again for a toy that I wanted to build an engine beyond what the stock EFI can support. For a daily driver, the stock EFI system is superior and still very simple to work on. Even if I bought a truck and the PO had just mangled the EFI system I would rather rebuild and replace it than run a carb setup again.
If you can't wrap your head around the Ford EEC IV system you probably can't wrap your head around how a carburetor really works either.
I converted an 88 F-150 with a 5.8/C6 to a carb set up, and drove it for years. It needed minor attention often, but never had any major problems. Mileage was terrible.
I would only do this again for a toy that I wanted to build an engine beyond what the stock EFI can support. For a daily driver, the stock EFI system is superior and still very simple to work on. Even if I bought a truck and the PO had just mangled the EFI system I would rather rebuild and replace it than run a carb setup again.
If you can't wrap your head around the Ford EEC IV system you probably can't wrap your head around how a carburetor really works either.
Elder User
Joined: May 2013
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You need to explain what you are looking for and why you want to do it. There are pros and cons either way.
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New User
Joined: Dec 2004
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Thank you R&R Ford. I have been building hot rods and muscle cars since the early 70s so I do understand how EFI and carburetors work. I have simply never built a Ford with EFI.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2015
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From: Candy Mountain
What are your goals for the build/truck? The speed density EFI can support mild upgrades, and the mass air flow EFI system can sustain a little more, but it is easy to go beyond what they can do in stock form and you end up in the land of modified EFI, custom EFI, or a carburetor. If you have a computer controlled transmission this makes life more complicated.
If you just want a stock or mild build there is no reason to ditch the factory EFI. If you are interested in more torque I would suggest swapping in a mild, roller 351 instead of building the 302. You can use all stock parts and still be ahead compared to the 302.
If you just want a stock or mild build there is no reason to ditch the factory EFI. If you are interested in more torque I would suggest swapping in a mild, roller 351 instead of building the 302. You can use all stock parts and still be ahead compared to the 302.
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Joined: Aug 2016
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All just personal opinion. but; I sold off my 79 F-350 with a built 460 (bored, cam, balanced, 650 Holley with 4 corner idle, ETC). Anyhow when it was a daily driver, it was ok, it still took a lot of fiddling to keep it in top form, but that was amazing enough that tinkering was well worth it. Once it began to sit more days than it ran, it nearly had to be a planned event to use it. All that seemed to center on the carb. I even tried replacing it with a brand new Holley, with the same results. The gas they sell today is seriously working against you, and it hits carbureted engines much worse. I replaced it with a '96 F150 4.9 and have never regretted it a bit. It still has been screwed with, (Cam, head work, ETC) but other than punching out of its weight class, you'd hardly notice. It does that day in and day out without constant tinkering. I am on the lookout for an OBS F-250 / 350, just for the occasional time when i need a heavier truck, but trust me, it will be EFI.
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4DConsumer
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
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Jun 3, 2009 07:46 PM