how much to convert to EFI
- Thread starter theautomatics
- Start date
Hack
15 Year Member
That's pretty tough. If you buy a running car and part it out you might be able to make money on the deal. Find a car that has everything you want and swap parts. Sell the other car as carbed. That's the best option for low cost, but could be a PITA waiting and looking for that perfect car.
If you decide you need to buy all nice new stuff it could cost 2 to 4 grand.
What parts do you need? I bought a Ford Motorsport wiring harness PN M-12071-A50 from Summit for converting my '83. That cost $670 by itself, but it was worth it to me. It has EGR delete, some nice troubleshooting features as well as complete and thorough instructions. Also, it's not a 20 year old wiring harness.
The upper and lower intake can be anything from stock HO to GT40/Explorer to fancy aftermarket stuff, which is also a huge gap in cost from almost free to big bucks.
I think the biggest determiners are going to be how much power you want to make and whether you are willing to wait for deals.
If you decide you need to buy all nice new stuff it could cost 2 to 4 grand.
What parts do you need? I bought a Ford Motorsport wiring harness PN M-12071-A50 from Summit for converting my '83. That cost $670 by itself, but it was worth it to me. It has EGR delete, some nice troubleshooting features as well as complete and thorough instructions. Also, it's not a 20 year old wiring harness.
The upper and lower intake can be anything from stock HO to GT40/Explorer to fancy aftermarket stuff, which is also a huge gap in cost from almost free to big bucks.
I think the biggest determiners are going to be how much power you want to make and whether you are willing to wait for deals.
88gt
Founding Member
reenmachine has a wiring harness kit....
Edelbrock has a cool set-up as well....depends really on the type of EFI you want, too many variables right now to really be much help...
Edelbrock has a cool set-up as well....depends really on the type of EFI you want, too many variables right now to really be much help...
Stanger007
Founding Member
My EFI swap to a Foxbody setup is going to cost about $500-600.
Here's what I've got going so far: http://www.72mach1.com/my-cars/carb-to-efi-swap
Wes
Here's what I've got going so far: http://www.72mach1.com/my-cars/carb-to-efi-swap
Wes
I think that sounds about right to me. If only we could find a good solution for an in tank fuel pump it would make these conversions that much easier.
It depends on what you want from your system and how much power you want to make. The stock 5.0 is good for many. I noticed you have a stroker engine so a stock setup may not work for you. The inexpensive 5.0 mustang setup gets really expensive when you need a larger fuel system, different intake, different throttle body, different injectors, different MAF...... you get my point. Ask me how I know, I started with a stock 5.0 and the only thing left is the block, rods and crank.
If you are looking for a possibly cheaper route that may be much easier to convert you may want to look at the Holley system listed above or the Retrotec system that looks like a carb. Just something to consider since there are a lot of little expenses that come with a junk yard build up. My $1500 junk yard build up is going to cost me closer to $10k when all is said and done.
If you are looking for a possibly cheaper route that may be much easier to convert you may want to look at the Holley system listed above or the Retrotec system that looks like a carb. Just something to consider since there are a lot of little expenses that come with a junk yard build up. My $1500 junk yard build up is going to cost me closer to $10k when all is said and done.
TOO damn much. A friend of mine put a $4000.00 MAF FI system on his FF Cobra and he still can't get it right after 15 months. I wouldn't do it.
There is a point where you take it to a tuner and spend a couple hundred bucks to dial the system in. How much does your friend value his time?
Stanger007
Founding Member
Converting a carb'd car to EFI: $500-$4000
Knowing how to tune it: Priceless
There's some things money can't buy, for everything else, there's a professional tuner.
Knowing how to tune it: Priceless
There's some things money can't buy, for everything else, there's a professional tuner.
BarnStang
Founding Member
Man, that is so true! Truer words have never been spoken. There are a LOT of people who have converted to EFI. There are some conversions that do not go well. WHen I had my 93, I spent all my Stangnet time on the EFI forum. We spent TWO YEARS trying to help a guy with his car. And that was not even a conversion. He traded it in after replacing every part three times except the short block. Tons of money. Sometimes, it just does not work. WIth the exception of that case, a good tuner can "almost" always get it worked out. And there are so many more choices today than 10 years ago. I saw an 87-93 harness with an A9L computer at my local track's mini swap meet for $75! We saw boxes and boxes of the stuff at Columbus-if you wanted to do it cheap, using a stock used MAF system. But yea, ya gotta be able to get a basic tune on it. SO, there are deals to be had. Or you can get a turn key system new. You have some good answers to your question, but now you need to do some research and decide what direction you want to go and have a plan. THere was a thread awhile back that tracked a conversion in great detail. DO a couple searches and some reading and troll the EFI forum. THat will give you a good idea of some of the problems and some of the solutions to the problems. Let us know how it goes.
This is why I chose to go with an aftermarket ECU and TBI. The stock EFI stuff would have cost me a bunch of HP by choking the engine, and aftermarket equipment to support the power was going to cost me an arm and a leg.
A used 900cfm holley unit was way cheaper and easier to install, without costing me any horsepower. The drawback tho is a slight decrease in throttle responce vs a multi port injectioin system.
A used 900cfm holley unit was way cheaper and easier to install, without costing me any horsepower. The drawback tho is a slight decrease in throttle responce vs a multi port injectioin system.
Thanks. I guess it's not worth the money If I have my carb properly tuned. My last 289 had trouble running with my speed demon 575. No mechanic could get it to run. I was looking for reliability with EFI but if it could be as high as $4000 and a royal pain in the arse, forget it. I'll stick with a holley 600-650cm for my 331.
I did my conversion for $3000. I've attached an Excel doc that shows some of the parts I used. This was for a ~400 fwhp 302 so includes 36 lb/hr injectors, mass-air sensor, victor EFI intake, 75mm TB, etc...
I preferred to use new parts, but this list could be significantly trimmed using a donor vehicle. Junkyard parts I did use and would recommend as they save a lot of money are the wiring harness / computer.
Anyways, this is just one way of doing it. I'm working on a writeup that has detailed parts lists for both "stock" type conversions and an example of a "high performance" kit like mine.
PS - If you want the actual Excel file, have to e-mail it as can't attach...
Note on Dyno tunes - may be required. Mine runs great with no tune except for a flat spot at low RPM (handicap of the Victor) and rev-limit is too low (factory 6250). I plan on getting a dyno tune and expect the cost to run ~$500 for a custom chip.
I preferred to use new parts, but this list could be significantly trimmed using a donor vehicle. Junkyard parts I did use and would recommend as they save a lot of money are the wiring harness / computer.
Anyways, this is just one way of doing it. I'm working on a writeup that has detailed parts lists for both "stock" type conversions and an example of a "high performance" kit like mine.
PS - If you want the actual Excel file, have to e-mail it as can't attach...
Note on Dyno tunes - may be required. Mine runs great with no tune except for a flat spot at low RPM (handicap of the Victor) and rev-limit is too low (factory 6250). I plan on getting a dyno tune and expect the cost to run ~$500 for a custom chip.
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