Narrowed it down I guess

[ShagWagon]

Howell $1300
FITECH $995
Hamilton $1400

I'm an intermediate driveway mechanic. Never done this before but willing to try.

I'm leaning towards the Fitech because of price and seems a lot less clutter and it seems you don't have to mess with the distributor. I've never timed a vehicle before but somewhat have the idea.

Upon reading and scouring for quite some time, Some say you need to mess with the distributor anyways and it seems there 100 mods that everyone argues about in lingo I don't really understand. I don't want to drill a hole in my distributor cap to make sure everything lines up right that I welded together and wired shut after I tap and die a screw that I ground down so it would clear the spinner mechanism. This just sounds like something I'd screw up really bad.

Howell and Hamiltons have a distributor with the kit already setup I suppose? Fitech claims will work with my stock one.

I'm also confused about if I need to buy a fuel sending upgrade. I'd like to upgrade but not sure what to buy here.
They all 3 seem to have a new fuel pump with kit but all offer other alternatives.

Fitech has some fuel command center can thing. I can't figure out what to do with it they say it's a fuel pump but it looks huge. Where would this thing mount? Seems a good thing to have? Does it make noise? They sell another inline fuel pump separately too and a linkage for $29. Would I need all these? That would put it over $1600.

Gas tank and fuel sending unit- I just put in a newly engineered fuel sending unit piece of crap from TGW that I had to mess with 19+ times to finally get it to work right. Would I keep all that the same or do I need a new gas tank with an in tank fuel pump so it's quieter on the end of my sending unit? And a lot of talk about changing my fuel lines to bigger ones rated for hi pressure.

Also should buy the the Doug Thorlel headers they sell on BJs and have them installed first? Does Doug Thorley come with a pre installed bunghole? I was thinking to order them and have a muffler shop install them and put in a o2 bunghole so I could just screw in the o2 sensor, or should I attempt this install myself and drive down and have them install the bunghole. Seems easy enough to do but seems easy enough to not get a good gasket seal.

I'm trying to plan this thing out so that I can order everything at once and only have to do it once and not be missing anything, and get it right.Never done something like this so I could use some advice here on a list because I'm not quite sure all I'll need. I'll just go through their instructions step by step so hope they have good ones.

Thanks





Stock 87 GW.

[BigOberg]

Check out my build. I went with the Howell and it was well worth the money.

[asudchiman]

I'd like to follow along. I too would consider the upgrade. At this point, it seems the Howell is one of the most popular. This may be because Wagonmaster uses it, but I am glad to hear all of the input.

[asudchiman]

Check out my build. I went with the Howell and it was well worth the money.

I have read your build thread many times. Good stuff!
Are you still using your Jeep as a DD?

Do you have any "lawnmower" smells from your Jeep? I ask because the carb smell is triggering migraines for my wife. My hope is that EFI with a closed system will eliminate the smell and make it more like a modern car.

Your thoughts would be appreciated.

[BigOberg]

I haven't been using it as my daily driver now. Only because my new job came with a brand new company car. But I still drive the GW on the weekends and any chance I get. I went a good six months though driving her daily with no issues. As far as the Howell goes I do not have any fuel smell at all.

[babywag]

If your rig is truly stock w/ 2bbl carb?
You can add a 4bbl intake, valley pan gasket, and misc. to $ total/list.

[ShagWagon]

Check out my build. I went with the Howell and it was well worth the money.

I read it before. Looks nice. I re read it again. Not too much on the process. Did you change your gas lines? They looked bad in the pic. You mentioned you were going to do a write up when you had the time about the Howell. How is the distributor they sent you? We're the instructions easy for it?

[ShagWagon]

If your rig is truly stock w/ 2bbl carb?
You can add a 4bbl intake, valley pan gasket, and misc. to $ total/list.

I'm not too sure but I think so. Can you tell me what I got here?

[babywag]

Yep 2bbl intake & carb.
If you go GM TBI they come with adapter to install on stock intake.
If you go fitech you will need a 4bbl intake manifold.

[ShagWagon]

Yep 2bbl intake & carb.
If you go GM TBI they come with adapter to install on stock intake.
If you go fitech you will need a 4bbl intake manifold.

Well that's good to know.


How hard is it to find an intake manifold? And is it hard to install? Seems simple if I'm already there if it's not to spendy.

[asudchiman]

I haven't been using it as my daily driver now. Only because my new job came with a brand new company car. But I still drive the GW on the weekends and any chance I get. I went a good six months though driving her daily with no issues. As far as the Howell goes I do not have any fuel smell at all.

Thanks! That is what I was hoping to hear.

[ShagWagon]

I need this one? Not sure what I'd be getting here but seems like a good start. Not sure how much more I'd have to put into it to get it going.

http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/showthread.php?t=180119

Or this one? $275 seems reasonable price.

http://www.jegs.com/i/Edelbrock/350/2131/10002/-1

Seems I have an 87 which is different. Am I pre pollution control? Not sure . Seems they made a change between 86-87 for Intake manifolds. Don't want to get the wrong one. What am I looking for here.

Maybe some other option for a manifold I don't know of like used or off another truck or something..

Thanks

[babywag]

Do NOT need 1st one. That is modified for MPFI.
You can buy new via summit/jegs, or used.
Post in wanted section or watch eBay and CL for used.
They run $100-$150 used, just be sure it is in good shape.
No stripped bolt holes or messed up gasket/mating surfaces.

If buying new I like this manifold.

https://m.summitracing.com/parts/ofy-5917

I think it would do well with FI.
But Edelbrock performer is fine as well.

[ShagWagon]

Do NOT need 1st one. That is modified for MPFI.
You can buy new via summit/jegs, or used.
Post in wanted section or watch eBay and CL for used.
They run $100-$150 used, just be sure it is in good shape.
No stripped bolt holes or messed up gasket/mating surfaces.

If buying new I like this manifold.

https://m.summitracing.com/parts/ofy-5917

I think it would do well with FI.
But Edelbrock performer is fine as well.

That one looks good but says not available till march 2017...

FITECH is starting to add up to about $1700 out the door with the $300 manifold and $400 In gas command add ins..

[babywag]

Again just my opinions...

You don't need the $400 fuel command center, or the $250 fuel system.

A decent pump, and filter will do the job just fine.
You can get a walbro for ~$75 and a corvette regulating filter for ~$40(if going with returnless fuel system) .
Or you can buy an OE style pump for less.

The fuel command center has a 340 L/PH pump that is more suited for a 600-900hp engine.

IMHO the 600hp system is way overkill...4 80lb injectors.
The 400hp system is also mildly overkill, but not nearly as much.
Just like with a carb that is too big, a FI system that is too big will not perform optimally, but it will work.

You'll have to decide if a color touch screen, and timing control are worth the extra $$ to you?

Just don't get all sucked into the marketing hype.