Edelbrock AMC V8 Port Fuel Injection?

[netbear]

I'm considering the new Edelbrock Port Fuel
Injection system they are selling. Has anyone
installed this system on an AMC V8? Looks like
a nice setup on paper.

[khuang88gw]

BJ's has the Ebrock FI for the AMC V8 listed at $2,700. I am sure this would be a huge improvement over any carb but big $'s.
http://www.bjsoffroad.com/cartgenie/prodList.asp?pg=3&scat=28&sflag=0&brand=

Another alternative for better driveability than the carb but not as much improved performance as a Port injection is a throttle body injection system. www.customefis.com (http://www.customefis.com) sells systems for the AMC V8 for $900

[Serious Johnson]

First, that looks like a very nice setup, and I'd love to have it! Everything that follows is just my personal unscientific gut feeling based on SWAG:

Port injection can offer significant gains over a throttle-body batch system, but most of that gain probably comes from what its more precise fuel control allows to be done to the rest of the motor. Without carefully redesigned combustion chambers, ports, manifolding, valve timing, etc., etc. I wouldn't expect much gain at all over say a '90s GM throttle body system.

Again, very nice setup, and I applaud Edelbrock for doing it and BJ's for offering it.

SJ

[mdill]

I haven't boght the system yet, thinking hard about
it though.

The main advantage of port injction is that you
run a dry manifold, so there is no worries about
fuel falling out of suspention while going
though the manifold, that does not sound like
much but whenever a tube makes a bend it is hard
to keep enough energy in the flow to keep fuel
from falling out, also for cold starts there
is much less need to add as much extra fuel as
there will not be fuel condensing out on all the
walls, and not need to run a heat riser valve
to try and heat the manifold for the above reason.

The down sides to the Edelbrock system I see is
it is more of a performance peice, so intake
velocity will not be good at low RPM's, No EGR
provision so milage is not going to be as good as
it could, and finally what do you do when a part
on it breaks 3 mile past no where ?
The GM TBI parts are everywhere, and GM had mucho
engineering to make thier setup reliable and
offer a limp mode, where I don't think Edlebrock
is going to shine on this note.

Mike D.

[biscuit]

ive been thinking of the edelbrock also and when i get the money up i think im going to do it and may get the heads also but may take a while

[jeepsr4ever]

Its a hell of a setup coming with a distributor and a rail system with intake that flows up to 1000cfm ....It may be a little spendy but not a whole lot more than the chevy version...ok a few bucks :D

[Josh D]

Originally posted by mdill:

The down sides to the Edelbrock system I see is
it is more of a performance peice, so intake
velocity will not be good at low RPM's
Mike D.I believe you had answered this yourself. Low speed velocity is needed to keep fuel atomized and in suspension. I don't believe this would be an issue with port injection and a dry manifold. That's the beauty of it. With the proper ecm program, you could run this on your bone stock, highway geared FSJ, or you hung out, high compression 401 AMX!!

[mdill9]

"Low speed velocity is needed to keep fuel atomized and in suspension." Yes a dry manifold
solves half the issue, but velocity is what helps volumetric efficancy as it helps fill the
cly. at the end of the intake stroke.

Mike D.

[netbear]

Thanks for the feedback. I can't imagine much
breaking on the trail except the ECM or fuel
pump so it would be a wise investment to buy a
spare ECM and fuel pump. Fuel injectors are
pretty reliable these days as long as a high
quality clean fuel filter is part of the plan.
Anyone see any other potential trail failures?

I like the idea of accurate fuel distribution,
cold start quality and altitude correction.
I'm just wondering how good the Edelbrock
system is engineered...

I would be installing it on my 401 in a T18
Cherokee. I plan to use the Edelbrock Aluminum
heads at the same time rather than spend the
money to rebuild the original iron heads. I
think they incorporated a slightly improved
combustion chamber shape looking at the pics.

[mdill9]

Don't get me wrong, I think it is a good unit
from what little I have seen, I figure on running
about the same set up, I have the heads and am
planning on getting the EFI unit, as soon as I
can distract MC long enough to get one out the door, when I am up at his shop, maybe the kids can
be of some help after all smile.gif

Mike D.

[jeepsr4ever]

If you can get past the guard towers :D

Realy though its hard to beat a port injection system at any RPM. With injectors already atomizing the fuel when it comes out it is this accurate fuel control that helps the low end.

[Josh D]

Originally posted by mdill9:
"Low speed velocity is needed to keep fuel atomized and in suspension." Yes a dry manifold
solves half the issue, but velocity is what helps volumetric efficancy as it helps fill the
cly. at the end of the intake stroke.

Mike D.I see what your saying. This is usually remedied with runner length and shape, correct? I would hope Edelbrock did their homework to be sure that for $2700 it would function properly in more than one application. Their advertising for this setup in the publications that I read are geared towards Jeeps, and a majority of those are 304 c.i. CJ's.

[netbear]

Yep. I'm thinking the displacement of the 401,
being at the high side of AMC V8s, will
maintain decent intake track velocity at
low to mid range RPMS with the Edelbrock
system.