Demand for aftermarket feedback carburetor "PCM"?

[ExploreNW]

I was walking through the junkyard last weekend and noticed there are plenty of clean RBVs with feedback carbs. Clean as in no accidents, visually nothing wrong with these trucks at all.

Got me thinking... I bet you the feedback carb system got them a spot in the scrapyard. These early systems had limited diagnostic abilities and next to zero tunability. It's one of those weird relics of the '80s, half-TBI, half-carb. Exactly the thing I like to mess with out in the shop.

I want to make a direct-swap tuneable computer for you guys that have these trucks, seeing as how there isn't one. Make it a package - computer, connectors, wiring perhaps? Just a Plug-N-Go? No, I won't be getting rich, they would be a limited run and I know no one really wants to spend more than a Megasquirt conversion on their old trucks. I also have a lot of experience in software engineering (backup career) and think this would be fun for me.

Now, before I go get one of these BIIs and start screwing with it, does anyone on TRS still have the feedback system on their trucks in somewhat of a stock form and would you guys be interested in a factory-looking tuneable carb "PCM" with useful diag info?

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

It would have to be stupid cheap.

What I would do if I had to deal with emissions testing:

Fuel Injection For Your 2.8L Ford Ranger - The Ranger Station

(Throttle Body Injection System – Image used for reference only. Image is not from a 3.8L) By James Marcy Note: The 1984-1987 Ford Cougar used Central Fuel Injection (CFI). This motor retained the traditional circular air cleaner but swapped out … Continued

www.therangerstation.com

Or

2.8L Chevy TBI Swap on to Ford 2.8 - The Ranger Station

Original Poster(s): Cammeddrz and RICO9 Difficulty: 8.5 out of 10 Time to install: A Weekend Disclaimer: The Ranger Station.com, The Ranger Station.com Staff, nor the original poster are responsible for you doing this modification to your vehicle. By doing this … Continued

www.therangerstation.com

Event then legality will vary. Swapping in a later engine (like 2.8->4.0) is generally legal.

What I did do (and what most people do)

2.8L Duraspark Conversion - The Ranger Station

Here’s how you can get rid of that terrible TFI Ignition and replace it with a Duraspark Ignition. Ford 2.8 Duraspark Distributor Ford Duraspark Ignition Module (Note 2 Connectors Not 3) Distributor Cap Adapter GM Vacuum Switch … Continued

www.therangerstation.com

What most people do when they can't find anybody that knows how to fix their morphodite 35+ year old truck that they paid $200 for:

 

[RonD]

Not well versed in the feedback carb computer control systems, but would propane or ethanol conversion be on the table

Not seeing a big use for gasoline, when better systems are available

 

[ExploreNW]

It would have to be stupid cheap.

Stupid cheap is a certainty. I'm not Holley or FAST so I really don't care if the things don't make money. Arduino boards are $30ish on amazon, less in bulk. I want to build them to fit the factory harness. Some guys can build their own off freely available wiring diagrams and whatever code I come up with (good for fixing butchered systems) or they can get one made ready to go from me.

As for emissions - compatibility is a part of the goal, often it's the whole reason guys keep their feedback systems to begin with. I've never lived in a state that has had visual emissions inspections, only 96+ OBD-II testing and '75-'96 exhaust gas sniffer testing. For visuals I imagine I could accept a small amount of cores per month to swap my electronics into. I want the system to be able to pass federal emissions regardless.

Would be cool to have something that works on an early OBD-II protocol but USB is the devil I know and it'll be first.

but would propane or ethanol conversion be on the table

Absolutely. Propane is a build goal for my Ranger so at the very least I'll be doing something custom on TRS there. In a year or two I'll have a 500-gal nursing tank on my property and I'll convert everything over at that point. Never thought about ethanol, it's nearly $4/gal at the one station in town that carries it, but if that changes I'd be open to it.

 

[RonD]

I don't think these setups would be used as high mile daily drivers, more around town and local use

You can get a free Federal permit to make alcohol fuel, some states don't allow it though, but I think you still need to mix it with gasoline, as 100% alcohol fuel can be prohibited, so E85

The later model flex fuels just allowed for wider parameters for O2 sensor feedback so fuel sensors were not needed
Not sure feedback carb can do that, Jets are not as flexible as injectors

 

[ExploreNW]

That's awesome, I never knew you could. Do you have a rig and a cheap/free source of things to make ethanol out of?

And if yes, could/have you shared the plans?

As for a feedback carb. In low elevations to lean it out on regular gas I could use the altitude aneroid. Then when the O2 reads lean due to ethanol I can shut the aneroid. Just theory. There are also vac solenoids governing fuel into the accelerator enrichment circuit as well.