Aces Killshot Fusion EFI Swap

[85_Ranger4x4]

I did slip the dizzy back apart since it was only two screws to take a couple pics of how I locked it up.



Showing the bushing I used to tighten things up.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

its simpler than any 80s carb underhood disaster of wiring and vacuum egr thermactor controls.

with modern fuels.....you are fawked with a typical carb. i swear they made it just to murder carbs.

My whole issue with EFI over carbs boils down to the fact atleast for me its harder to diagnose issues.

With a carb its usually pretty easy to tell whats happening and especially on older EFI systems youre not having to chase miles of wire....because it can hardly ever be the actual component

 

[bobbywalter]

you say that. but its not true. true in a sense total failure to run. not in terms of drivability issues.

 

[Curious Hound]

My whole issue with EFI over carbs boils down to the fact atleast for me its harder to diagnose issues.

With a carb its usually pretty easy to tell whats happening and especially on older EFI systems youre not having to chase miles of wire....because it can hardly ever be the actual component

EFI talks to you. You have to understand how to listen. 2 types of people.

People type 1. "O2 sensor, bank 1 lean". Ok. What gives me a lean condition on bank 1? Let's gather data and see what's wrong.

People type 2. " O2 sensor , bank 1 lean". Ok. I'll replace the O2 sensors, spark plugs, wires and air filter. Hmmm. That didn't work. What should I replace next? Dang this truck costs a lot of money.

I'd swear that when some of those type 2 people get a fuel level sender low warning on the dash, they want to replace the sender instead of filling the fuel tank.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

EFI talks to you. You have to understand how to listen. 2 types of people.

People type 1. "O2 sensor, bank 1 lean". Ok. What gives me a lean condition on bank 1? Let's gather data and see what's wrong.

People type 2. " O2 sensor , bank 1 lean". Ok. I'll replace the O2 sensors, spark plugs, wires and air filter. Hmmm. That didn't work. What should I replace next? Dang this truck costs a lot of money.

I'd swear that when some of those type 2 people get a fuel level sender low warning on the dash, they want to replace the sender instead of filling the fuel tank.

No i agree with that. Im kinda a level 1.5....i try to do the whole proper way but i get quickly frusterated and jump to replacing shit because i just want it fixed. Im trying to learn it lol.

But with a carb its just alot more point and shoot if that makes sense

 

[Curious Hound]

No i agree with that. Im kinda a level 1.5....i try to do the whole proper way but i get quickly frusterated and jump to replacing shit because i just want it fixed. Im trying to learn it lol.

But with a carb its just alot more point and shoot if that makes sense

If a carb is what you're used to, it makes sense to you and it is wonderful. Carbs are simple and they work.

My brain doesn't get along with carbs. There is always compromise and inefficiency. And I always want it perfect. So, you set your carb on saturday morning. It's 75 degrees outside. You're at 737ft elevation. You've got 89octane fuel and you dial it in perfect. You take the wife out driving all afternoon, cruising along within a few hundred feet of yoir set elevation. Visit an antique store, stop at a local car show, take her out for dinner and go home. Beuatiful day. Car performed flawlessly.

A few days later, you have to drive to Denver for a work trip. There's a low pressure weather sytem in the area, it's only 50 degrees and damp. And your trip involves getting up to 5500ft elevation. Does the car work? Yes. But does it work as well as the first day? No. You can readjust, maybe even install a different jet or needle or something. But you have to fiddle with it.

With EFI, our squirrel is educated and caffeinated. He's under the hood fiddling with the mixture for us in hyperspeed. He looks at the amount of air coming in, adjusts it for temperature, calculates the fuel per fire, monitors coolant temp, looks at the exhaust and adjusts for the next burn. And leeps fine tuning it continuously as the day warms up, as we gain or lose elevation, as load changes, etc.

That little squirrel satisfies my OCD/ADHD and I like him. I'm happy to give him some wires. AND, if I'm offroad and bump hard against a rock or tree, or if I'm leaned way over off-camber or steep up/downhill, he doesn't let the fuel slosh out of the bowl and stall the engine.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

If a carb is what you're used to, it makes sense to you and it is wonderful. Carbs are simple and they work.

My brain doesn't get along with carbs. There is always compromise and inefficiency. And I always want it perfect. So, you set your carb on saturday morning. It's 75 degrees outside. You're at 737ft elevation. You've got 89octane fuel and you dial it in perfect. You take the wife out driving all afternoon, cruising along within a few hundred feet of yoir set elevation. Visit an antique store, stop at a local car show, take her out for dinner and go home. Beuatiful day. Car performed flawlessly.

A few days later, you have to drive to Denver for a work trip. There's a low pressure weather sytem in the area, it's only 50 degrees and damp. And your trip involves getting up to 5500ft elevation. Does the car work? Yes. But does it work as well as the first day? No. You can readjust, maybe even install a different jet or needle or something. But you have to fiddle with it.

With EFI, our squirrel is educated and caffeinated. He's under the hood fiddling with the mixture for us in hyperspeed. He looks at the amount of air coming in, adjusts it for temperature, calculates the fuel per fire, monitors coolant temp, looks at the exhaust and adjusts for the next burn. And leeps fine tuning it continuously as the day warms up, as we gain or lose elevation, as load changes, etc.

That little squirrel satisfies my OCD/ADHD and I like him. I'm happy to give him some wires. AND, if I'm offroad and bump hard against a rock or tree, or if I'm leaned way over off-camber or steep up/downhill, he doesn't let the fuel slosh out of the bowl and stall the engine.

Nah i get that. But the way i see it is everything breaks eventually...and id rather spend an hour doing whatever to a carb then 3 months chasing wiires, trying to test sensors, and wondering why it still only runs good enough.

I do like stuff to run right...but frankly id rather have it atleast run.

All the time, money, aggravation, etc ive spent on the ranger, B2, cobalt, crown vic, etc wouldnt of happend with a carbed vehicle. I woulda rebuilt the carb, tuned it, possibly slapped a new dist in, timed it, and had it going in an afternoon.

The ONLY reason ive given up on carbed 70s stuff as a daily is its to hard to find something that isnt total junk, or a museum piece they want a mint for. Its really annoying.