Notices
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks 1987 - 1996 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350 and larger pickups - including the 1997 heavy-duty F250/F350+ trucks
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

EFI to CARB conversion help

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
  #31  
Old 03-03-2019, 10:05 AM
westcoasting's Avatar
westcoasting
westcoasting is offline
Elder User
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 533
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
Originally Posted by My4Fordtrucks


How would we know that the ‘86 had a carburetor unless you said it does? Several if not most engines in the car/truck lineup were fuel injected by then.

You can can fiddle with a carb and get them to run very good but it will still need periodic rebuilds and maintenance. How much time do you spend on your ‘96 working on get size, idle mixture and choke adjustments? Sequential fuel injection is much more precise than a carb could ever hope to be. I have carbureted vechicles but they are not my daily driver.

To Zbrown that brought this thread back from the dead,
What testing have you done? Did you just throw ignition parts at it? Are there any fault codes stored or active?
I'm pretty sure it is stock from the factory but not 100% on when ford switched over. I had a 86 with a 351 and it was carbed. I think it was the next year or two as i also had a 88 with a 302 and it was fuel injected. Back to the carb though, on trucks back then i had very few issues, yes i eventually took them off and did a clean/rebuild on them but then they were foolproof for a long time after setup. The 90's fuel injection is totally foolproof though i get what you are saying there. The biggest problem is it is attached to the whole computer system and associated smog garbage on these trucks that take time to figure out what is going on and what to replace. This forum here and a number of members who have incredible knowledge of these systems are invaluable. Before the internet it was a crapshoot to find a mechanic to solve issues like that.
 
  #32  
Old 03-03-2019, 10:10 AM
Nothing Special's Avatar
Nothing Special
Nothing Special is offline
Logistics Pro
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Roseville, MN
Posts: 4,964
Likes: 0
Received 50 Likes on 45 Posts
Keep in mind this is an 8 year old thread...
 
  #33  
Old 03-03-2019, 01:41 PM
My4Fordtrucks's Avatar
My4Fordtrucks
My4Fordtrucks is online now
Lead Driver
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 8,866
Received 1,363 Likes on 1,076 Posts
Originally Posted by Zbrown
yes the i's something wrong with my efi I've changed iignition system and still no fire that's why I'm wanting to change to carburetor
Originally Posted by Nothing Special
Keep in mind this is an 8 year old thread...
Brought back from the edge. Not sure what happened to “Zbrown” though.
 
  #34  
Old 06-17-2019, 04:10 PM
Hardnfast's Avatar
Hardnfast
Hardnfast is offline
New User
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Brookhaven Missisippi..
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
EFI to Carb conv..

Originally Posted by quadracer173
nothing is wrong with my efi just doing all this for a project.. i have a 4speed with drive manual trans.
Doing the same thing to my 94 EFI because my 84 block cracked..Thank you, I was wondering about the fuel delivery ..
 
  #35  
Old 06-17-2019, 07:04 PM
My4Fordtrucks's Avatar
My4Fordtrucks
My4Fordtrucks is online now
Lead Driver
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 8,866
Received 1,363 Likes on 1,076 Posts
You’re taking the EFI parts off of a ‘94 engine to put it in the ‘84? Sorry just trying to figure out what you’re saying.
 
  #36  
Old 11-07-2019, 07:40 AM
loud41's Avatar
loud41
loud41 is offline
Freshman User
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 36
Received 3 Likes on 1 Post
I can certainly answer the question as to "why" somebody would want to swap their EFI to a carb. It's because our EFI computers are getting old, no matter where you look (junkyard, eBay, etc.). These old computers start exhibiting very strange behaviors due to cracked solder joints, dry/burst electrolytic capacitors and so on. To go even further, our sensors that support the EFI system are getting old, and the aftermarket replacements are hardly worth exploring, let alone putting on the engine. They are just really junky. So when your computer is going bad with no new replacements (other than spending enough money to buy yourself a new truck), along with worn out or cheaply built sensors that give faulty information, carbs start sounding like a real good alternative. EFI is great, but when the parts to maintain that system just aren't there or any good, the EFI is just as unreliable or worse than the carburetor...
 
The following 3 users liked this post by loud41:
  #37  
Old 11-07-2019, 07:53 AM
jackietreehorn's Avatar
jackietreehorn
jackietreehorn is offline
Cargo Master
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 2,661
Received 184 Likes on 140 Posts
Having owned a couple of these now and unable to diagnose their "possessed" behavior, I now agree. On the other hand, I still don't think you should throw up the white flag and resort to a carb at the first sign of trouble unless your EFI system is truly cursed.
 
  #38  
Old 11-07-2019, 05:29 PM
torq'ta 5 8's Avatar
torq'ta 5 8
torq'ta 5 8 is offline
Logistics Pro
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: N.W. Alabama
Posts: 4,546
Received 691 Likes on 512 Posts
all well and good, until you try doing swap with truck having E4OD
 
  #39  
Old 11-07-2019, 06:01 PM
spurredon's Avatar
spurredon
spurredon is offline
Fleet Owner

Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 25,273
Received 615 Likes on 552 Posts
I have both EFI and carbureted trucks. My biggest problem is remembering which one I am in and do I need to pump the gas or not. HaHa!
I will say my plow/yard truck, 89 5.0 has EFI and it sits the majority of the time. But it sure starts nice when I need it.
 
  #40  
Old 11-07-2019, 06:34 PM
TooManyMIce's Avatar
TooManyMIce
TooManyMIce is offline
Tuned
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: State of Confusion
Posts: 406
Received 41 Likes on 34 Posts
Well put Loud. EFI is wonderful when it works. Primitive 30-year-old EFI with mystery gremlins and limited parts availability is not. My dad's '87 has a carburetor or two in its future.
 
  #41  
Old 12-06-2019, 06:49 PM
Justin2912's Avatar
Justin2912
Justin2912 is offline
New User
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Verona Island Maine
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Is it possible to add a EFI to a originally carbureted motor? I’m trying to figure out why my 89 F150 jumps up to 3g after warming up and only idles back down after shifting into gear. Plus the previous owner did a cam job on it. Would that have anything to do with it?
 
  #42  
Old 12-06-2019, 07:00 PM
rla2005's Avatar
rla2005
rla2005 is offline
Hotshot
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 19,587
Received 1,164 Likes on 919 Posts
Originally Posted by Justin2912
Is it possible to add a EFI to a originally carbureted motor?
There is no difference in the basic block/heads for a carb'ed versus EFI small block in this era truck.


Originally Posted by Justin2912
I’m trying to figure out why my 89 F150 jumps up to 3g after warming up and only idles back down after shifting into gear.
Best guess is a vacuum leak perhaps.


Originally Posted by Justin2912
Plus the previous owner did a cam job on it. Would that have anything to do with it?
It could be a contributor to your idle issue.The Speed Density EFI setup requires at least 114 LSA to work properly in most scenarios. Lumpy cams typically result in poor performance and stalling. Rare I have seen one cause a high idle.
 
  #43  
Old 12-06-2019, 07:42 PM
jackietreehorn's Avatar
jackietreehorn
jackietreehorn is offline
Cargo Master
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 2,661
Received 184 Likes on 140 Posts
Main difference is EFI blocks don’t have provision for mechanical pump.
 
  #44  
Old 01-31-2020, 10:51 AM
MainelyTrucks's Avatar
MainelyTrucks
MainelyTrucks is offline
8th Gear
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Pinehurst NC
Posts: 8
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
needs for the conversion

Originally Posted by quadracer173
i was told i would need a new ignition and distributor to is that true? and i am doing it as a project for my truck
Yes you will need a Distributor but not a new ignition unless for some reason it was 'chipped'.

While you can use the two internal low pressure and external high pressure fuel pumps, I find they are more to fail and the fuel return setup can be problematic, it might be better to drop the tank(s) remove the pumps and replace them with fuel line to the in tank filter then replace the high pressure pump with a new Carburetor low pressure 'Fuel Pump', but be sure to wire the fuel pump through the inertia power relay in case of accident.

Personally I use C6 or Manual Transmissions and I remove the computer and disassemble the wiring harness to make it cleaner and less of a headache to use, as well the open ports are perfect for running wiring for extra lights, or any 'gear' I need wired.

Take your time, use your phones camera and label everything!
 
The following users liked this post:
  #45  
Old 12-17-2021, 11:41 AM
alanp561's Avatar
alanp561
alanp561 is offline
New User
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Cleveland, TN
Posts: 16
Received 5 Likes on 4 Posts
I have a '95 F 150, 351 Windsor, E40D trans, speed sensor located on top of rear axle. First the speedometer went haywire, jumping all over the place. Then the engine started stumbling while driving and trans would upshift or downshift depending on which way the wind was blowing. Truck would stall when I put it in reverse. Everything I read pointed to speed sensor so I replaced that. Driving down the road 10 minutes later and it all starts happening again. More reading tells me that something in the speedometer cluster is sending a screwed up signal to the trans. Found another cluster in a salvage yard and changed that. Now the truck runs bad just like before and neither the speedometer or tach work. My plan is to go with a an Edelbrock 1406 because I have one, Edelbrock 2181 manifold that I paid $125 for in the original box that looks like new, fuel line regulator using the existing tank pumps, and replacing the E40D with a C6. Do all C6's have mechanical speedometers and what do I use for kick down linkage? I figure I'm going to have to put mechanical gauges in there anyway so I might be able to replace the entire speedometer cluster with one I build to fit the hole in the dash. I have a new factory stock distributor. Can I use that and the stock CD box or do I need something else? I know there are a lot of questions here but I only want to do this one time..
 
The following users liked this post:


Quick Reply: EFI to CARB conversion help



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:49 AM.