Sniper 2 or Deuces Wild 2 bbl TBFI

[Hale Ranger]

Has anyone attempted to install either of these on an 83-85 2.8 Ranger? I am considering doing the duraspark conversion and install one of the TBFI systems on my 84.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I'm pretty sure someone installed a Chevy tbfi on his b2. Don't remember who off hand.

 

[JoshT]

I'm pretty sure someone installed a Chevy tbfi on his b2. Don't remember who off hand.

Yeah, Chevy TBI swap used to be a thing. There's actually a writeup for it in the tech library.

2.8L Chevy TBI Swap on to Ford 2.8

I'd forgotten about it but there was a Ford based swap as well. Fuel Injection For Your 2.8L Ford Ranger

They were great options back in the day, probably still valid if you can source the parts easily and cheaply. I think I would have to spend the extra money and go to the aftermarket options that @Hale Ranger was asking about.

Personally I'd have to go Holley Sniper again. I don't think I'd consider the Duces Wild for anything. It's probably functional, but not as well documented and supported as the Holley systems. I've got the Sniper 4bbl on my F-100 and it works well. I just need to get my lazy behind in gear on getting the rest of the truck sorted and the system tuned.

Your biggest problem might avtually be the Duraspark conversion. I recall a thread not long ago about not being able to source Duraspark Distributors for this engine. I seem to recall that the poster ended up ordering one from Europe where this engine still has a bigger following. If I were able to find a usable distributor, I think I'd have to go with the GM HEI ignition module rather than Duraspark, as they seem more reliable these days from what I've read.

I think another suggestion in that thread may have been to convert a points type with a pertronix system. Hell, I might have even been the one that said that.

I haven't messed with a 2.8L in a long time, but have one I'd like to put back on the road someday, so I try to catch up on them occassionally. Unfortunately I'd be hard pressed to make a EFI system work on mine. Dad put a Offy 4bbl intake on it back in the 80s and I'm not willing to swap back to a stock 2bbl intake. Also don't want to run a 2bbl TBI with adapter, and all the 4bbl stuff is probably way too large. Offy did make a 2bbl upper half for my intake back in the 80s, but good luck finding one. Since the truck became mine in 2000, I've seen exactly one for sale and, unfortunately, had no interest at the time. In hindsight I'd likely have paid what ever they were asking and thrown it on the shelf.

 

[bobbywalter]

i am not as hot on the gen 1 systems. they aged like milk on some of the big engines and not tune friendly.....awesome when they were working...

there is a second gen out and the aces stuff is supposed to be tunable via laptop now which is a game changer.....


i ran across the LS mpi when i was looking for a spare terminator x pcm. i liked the aces as it has two o2sensors and allows better dial in... they made me a crazy deal...to set me up with a whole system for the same price of a replacement terminator x pcm... i am kicking myself for not doing it.




ms3 and custom injector bungs will be better combined with a microjolt.... still will be about the same cost as a terminator x though and alot of learning...


the 2.8 engine in stock form....it is hard to say if the dueces will be ok with such a nutless engine.....but since it can be tuned more extensively then the previous versions it certainly seems worth a roll of the dice. might just be able to pop it on and go....good enough.... still over a grand by the time you dial it in though i would guess...

only one way to find out.

 

[Shran]

Also not a fan of the old EFI swap setups. Couple of my buddies had Holley ProJection on GM & Ford engines, another guy I know has Affordable EFI on an AMC 304. None of them are easy to tune, old ProJection was terrible and Affordable is basically just early 90's GM OBD-1 TBI.

Not sure what to suggest for Holley or Deuces - the first gen Snipers had some significant issues, at least on the 4bbl version. Those have been redesigned & fixed. I don't know if the 2bbl ones had the same issues or were redesigned or what. I'd be a little hesitant on those.

 

[mikkelstuff]

I have a Holley Sniper on my '75 Ranchero 460 and so far works well with no messing around so far as tuning is required.