I am wanting to convert the 50 to EFI to help save on the gas bill.We're running a stock 283. Has anyone used the Holley pro-jection series? I am wondering if it will hold up long term for a daily driver? Any input on this system is appreciated.
I've sold a handful of kits on the wholesale level and don't remember any coming back under a warranty situation.They seem to be well-engineered pieces. If you buy used, be sure to by the newer versions coded as 'D' systems. They have the big capitol 'D' on the electronics box.
Root I Haven't used one myself but I did see one on a daily at a cruise and talked tot the guy about it. It was on a 350 in a box nova. He had nothing but praise for the unit. I haven't heard anything bad about 'em from anyone that has 'em.
I've heard of trouble with them years ago, mainly not being adjustable enough to work with mildly modified engines. This might have been fixed with the D series, whatever that is. I'd be surprised if that system could give better mileage than a properly working Qjet, though
A friend had one on a 283 in his Toyota FJ-40. Worked great for 'wheelin' at first, but then started having problems. But then again, this was when it was first introduced (****og), and was the 2 bbl version.
I know there are a lot of guys that will say that carbs are the way to go, and I may stay that course. I have never done this type of conversion. I just figure that in time, Oklahoma will go back to emissions testing etc. and I want this to be a daily driver at any al***ude, any weather condition. I just don't think there is any way that I personally can tune a carb to run as efficiently as a computer controlled fuel system.
I ran a Projection throttle body for a while with a GM system. I think there was an issue there because it burned out injectors 3 times. I switched the same system to a large bore throttle body from a 454 and never had another issue. That left a mark on me, so I can't say I would buy another Holley. I do, however, highly recomend the stand alone harness and GM parts from Fuel Injection Specialties in san Antonio. They can burn you a chip specific to your engine combination, gear ratio, etc. and you would have a very easy to install system.
what trans or rearend gear are you running?running an overdrive trans or installing a taller gear my give you the fuel increase you are looking for,without killing the look of a carb. -danny
I saw their website but it ****s. Maybe they have a catalog or an updated website? Hot rod Pro. I run a 3.25 rear gear and a 28" tall tire. I will probably run a 700R4 as well. Besides, customs are closed hood cars anyway.
I have run the digital holley projection. It is a sound system. I may end up running one on my new daily driver f100, but only because I have one sitting in a box at the shop. I much prefer the factory 1987-1995 rochester tbi computer. On bigger/higher hp engines the Holley 670tbi run by a factory GM computer, with a custom chip, is my favorite setup. The Holley tbis are top notch, but they run better with the better computer. For plug and play, the holley tbi will get the job done. For a daily driver I would rather have the factory gm system, with or without the spark managment. There are a few sources for the reworked gm stuff. Prices are real close to the holley stuff. Howell engine developments in MI is who I use. I have no personal experience with www.affordable-fuel-injection.com, but have heard good things, and the prices are "affordable".
My brother had one years ago. He was never happy with it He sold the truck he ran it on about five years ago, and must have bought it several years before that. I presume that means it was one of the early systems. I have an early GM TBI and I'm not prepared to believe its a good option for improved mileage. I don't think the truck it is on could do worse with a couple of carburators.
Check with a local qualified mechanic and see if he has any tips on this- I saw a fuekl injection [throttle body] from a 305" from a 1988 chevy truck retrofitted to a 69 chevy truck and it worked sweet....they are fairly simple and readily available..... the one from my old 88 would've bolted to your old 283's heads too, as I installed a quadrajet & intake for a guy on his 88.....they use an O2 sensor on one side and the run harness and electronics are reasonably simple
Chris -I am hardly ever right BUT-I see a problem looming on your fuelinjected horizon.... That tire height. vehicle weight/ engine combination/transmission choice will never net you any mileage unless you drive 85 or faster at all times....... the 283 has no tourqu hardly at all below 3000 RPM....the rear gear you have coupled with tire height and OD ****** will net you a very low engineRPM at say 60 MPH.......therein lies the problem... Your 283 whether it be injected or carb'd, would pick up some M.P.G if you upped the cruise RPM to about 25-2800 instead of the 1800 you will be revving with the combination you have now...... Maybe some number freaks can verify this theory of mine with a calculator or something more scientific.......
No experience with the holley unit, but I'd seriously look into a factory 88-95 tbi. They're junkyard plentiful and the tb off a 350 would be plenty big for a 283 no need to move up to the tb off the 454. I pull a solid 20mpg on a 94 w/ no mods except flows and real low, in mixed driving with an xcab. Also had a standard cab with crane compucam, world sr heads, and thorley headers; but same 20 mpg. Have also had a later 4.3 standard cab with supposedly surperior fi and no mods, and it got worse mileage. If you're looking for aftermarket support or parts in addition to checking howell I would call turbocity.com they have harnesses, custom chips, adjustable fpr's, etc.
In the late 90's (1996/7), when I had my Chevelle, I looked into getting a ProJection unit. Most of the people I talked to (aka salesmen) suggested against it. It wasn't tuning friendly enough, and they made that very clear. For what an $1100 commission was worth, I'd take his word for it. Have you tried Howell's? They have alot of bolt on TBI kits that use stock GM tbi parts. Jay
You may want to look into a factory GM TBI setup. A complete syslem is going to be much much cheaper than anything aftermarket, and it's all standard GM parts avalible anywhere. It's also much more tunable than people give it credit for. 3rd gen Camaro/Firebird guys especially have gotten very good at getting the most out of their TBI's, and the ones that swapped out the TBI for TPI are practically giving the whole systems away.
are you looking at the 2 barrell digital or the commander series? i have used both , with no problems......but the commander series will give you more options and tuning ability via laptop.........especially if you decide later to move it over to another mill. Fred
Thanks guys. I am unsure of what I am gonna do. I would like to go with a junkyard version if possible and have a harness made. I just want this thing to be super reliable in any weather. Nothing turns off your old lady to old cars like being stranded or havig to know the secret combination to start the thing. Kenny, the 283 will be designed around the FI system. I am thinking a 305 system might be pretty close to what I need. I'm just gonna hafta try and find a book covering it so I can edu-ma-cate myself.
For what it's worth, a guy I know is running a TPI setup from an '86 T/A on his rod, and he gets excellent mileage.
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