My buddy has a 1990 F-150, with a 5.0 and overdrive trans.

The question is...

Can we take off the fuel injection stuff and run a carb and duraspark II on it? I know things like the intake and fuel pumps would need to be thought out, but is it even possible? Are too many things operated buy the comp on this rig?

Most of the sensors and harness are messed up, the carb seems a little simpler.

 

The main first thing to determine what kind of transmission it is. If it's an E4OD (20 bolt pan, large square with a small cutout in one corner) it's electronically controlled by the EFI computer and you have to run EFI. I'm not sure, but it could be possible that it's an AOD which is not computer controlled.

I'm sure someone will be able to add more...

 

It's too complicated to make it worth it I've heard. The EFI systems on these trucks are complex, but simple compared to newer systems. You'd be better off to stick wtih EFI.

 

i can't figure out why everyone wants to go to Carb over EFI...

 

elwood, I am helping my grandson do the same thing to his 89 FSB. His engine had severe problems internally and externally. We found one for $150.00 that has recently been rebuilt, so we are installing it. The engine has an Edelbrock intake and we had a Holley 600. We are going to use a Duraspark II ignition too. I have an 83 FSB that we are going to rob the ignition harness from.
There are several problem areas that we have received help with on the forum. One of the problems is fuel delivery. We are going to try to use the low pressure pump in the tank and bypass the high pressure pump on the frame rail. There will be wiring problems that we will have to overcome.
We're hoping to have the new engine in by early next week. I will post a list of problems and hopefully solutions.

 

yeah...we're still pondering on it. Thanks for all the comments!

 

yes I have a friend that is converting his 302 efi over to 351w Carb due to many problems with his fuel injection , it is a 90 model as well , I am pretty sure yours is AOD and should be no problem making the tranny work , the problem you are going to have is fuel delivery , you will need to change fuel pumps either to a mechanical and find an old tank unit to replace the pump with , due to the fact that the efi fuel pump is very high pressure and you will need a low pressure high volume fuel pump to replace it with , holley makes a good one and you can get it on ebay CHEAP!!!! you just need to find you the old style sender for the tank and remove the fuel pump

 

i did thison a 90 model. but i also changed the aod for a c5 and another carbed 302 with points. the in tank pump is way to powerful so you need to take it out and put a regular sending unit back in. the get an electric pump for carbs and hook it up. then if you are going to use the aod with a carb you have to buy asomething from lokar to hook up your kickdown.then hook up your ignition. i had points so that was easy.if you are going to use your gauges you will need to keep the old wiring harness and put it aside so you can still have your temp and oil gauges. it is actually easy except for the dII ignition. i did not do that.

 

"i can't figure out why everyone wants to go to Carb over EFI..."
Not everyone, just a minority. EFI and computers are wonderful, as long as they are working. Like anything, it screws up occaisionally. Problem is sometimes it REALLY screws up.
Picture this. You have a vehicle that can just die at any time, anywhere, no rhyme or reason to it. You get sick of that pretty quick and have your son (ahem) look at it. No luck. Take it to the dealership as they should be the best qualified. After a couple of hundred dollars of diagnosis and parts swapping, it's still not fixed. Take to the local independant guy who has an excellent reputation but whose time isn't cheap. Nope. Finally raise so much Caine with the dealership, they allow you a good trade in on another car (with a warranty). Your vehicle makes rounds of 3 different dealerships for 6 months until they throw their hands up and auction it off. Still not fixed.
OK, that was my Dad and his problem was pretty unusual. What got me was NO ONE could find the problem.
Recently my wife's car did the same thing. Carb? Nope, appears to be fine. Probably electrical. Tough to diagnose as it seemed to start every time I opened the hood. Duraspark box? Slapped in my spare. Nope. Coil. Nope. Distributor pickup? Nope. Must be wiring, about 5 wires compared to the giant rat's nest of EFI. Sure enough, a corroded connection. Fixed.
Had something very similar on a newer EFI car. After screwing around with various special order relays I eventually traced it to damaged insulation that had let water in to corrode a hidden connection. The difference is that took 3 LONG weeks to find and required dismantling a large part of the engine compartment to rip apart the main wiring harness and track it down.
Versus an afternoon with the wife's car and spending $50 on parts which I can keep for spares anyway.
Plenty of folks have experienced similar stuff, usually not quite that awful but it doesn't take a whole lot of trips to a shop on the back of a towtruck to give you a bad attitude.
My wife has learned to appreciate that she can call me to come fix her car when she has trouble. Usually I can. She has more than one jealous friend who keeps the towing company on redial. When her late model EFI car breaks down, there is no one else she CAN call.
In short, why do folks retrofit to simpler ignitions and carburetors? When you do, the average guy stands a chance of being able to fix his own car.
The smaller your haystack, the easier it is to find that lost needle.

 

yes I have a friend that is converting his 302 efi over to 351w Carb due to many problems with his fuel injection , it is a 90 model as well , I am pretty sure yours is AOD and should be no problem making the tranny work , the problem you are going to have is fuel delivery , you will need to change fuel pumps either to a mechanical and find an old tank unit to replace the pump with , due to the fact that the efi fuel pump is very high pressure and you will need a low pressure high volume fuel pump to replace it with , holley makes a good one and you can get it on ebay CHEAP!!!! you just need to find you the old style sender for the tank and remove the fuel pump