Can a traditional car have EFI?

Good answer.

 

NASCAR is going to go EFI, why? Because it's better, from a purely functional standpoint, than a Carb.

But that's missing the point of this board. I do own 2 modern cars at the moment. One of them is an All Wheel drive sedan, according to Road and Track it hits 60 in the low 5s, gets about 27 on the highway, runs right up to its' 130mph speed limiter. Uncorked the car will approach 150mph.

My other car has a 4.2L V8, hits 60 in about 6 seconds, is capable of just shy of 30mpg on the highway, and unlimited will supposedly hit 162mph.

These cars will outrun all but the very fastest traditional hot rods and will blow the doors off of any pre-65 factory built Detroit car.

I'll say that one of them has something of a soul to it, but the other one, the AWD shitbox, is about as enjoyable to drive, to me, as a City Bus.

Meanwhile my 54 Ford probably takes 15 seconds to hit 60 and struggles to break 85mph, my Lincoln will do a bit over 100 and and probably takes 12 seconds to hit 60. A Minivan would kick its' ass.

But that, to me, isn't the point. These cars make me happy. These cars are all metal, made in America, and everything on them is mechanical. The Lincoln has Plastic.. umm.. lemme think.. oh yeah, the covers over the gauges are plastic. A few knobs on the Ford are plastic.

Everything on the Lincoln is mechanical, NOT electronic. Mechanical cruise control, a Rube Goldberg inspired mechanical vacuum controlled climate control system... and the list goes on and the way that these cars were built and designed fascinates me.

The Lexus is a soulless rolling computer. My Cadillac was a soulless rolling computer (When it got totalled it didn't really upset me, it was like losing a washing machine.. big deal, that's what insurance is for), my Jaguar has a hint of soul and that's mainly because it's somewhat good looking.

These cars have fantastically efficient electronically controlled engines with variable valve timing and stability and traction control and brake assist and black boxes and shitloads of airbags to save me from my awful self and they take all of the damn fun and challenge out of driving. They always start, they always idle smoothly, they hardly ever need to be fucked with, they need an occasional oil change, once in a while and air filter and that's it. I can drive either across the country and not have to raise the hood once.

But my Lincoln? My Ford? Those... those are REAL CARS!

I drive them to work whenever I can, and the clowns at work think I am insane for it. They don't get it. You guys do. That's why I love this place.

And just wait till I get my A roadster built

 

Not unless its Hillborn etc but thast really not electronic most are mechanical not 100% though build what you want goodluck

 

What if you like a certain look but still want the technology that is available? Not worried about traditional or trying to pass it off as such, what does this fit into? Case in point is my '30 Flathead powered pickup, pictures below.

 

Without having to rob a couple of 7-11s, I'd put a modern Hilborn straight stack rig with EFI on my ride if I could fund it, but it would have to have some sort of cool air filter (sprint car style?) set up, too. Even a Rochester style rig converted to EFI would be cool to me. Gary

 

No!

 

I am planning on EFI fully inside a Hilborn 2-port on top of my 4-71. Nobody will know it is there.

 

yes, absolutely, so long as you're also running blue anodized fittings and braided steel lines everywhere.

 

this fits in the cool truck category! I have no problem with efi in a hot rod, muscle car, custom, retro rod, resto mod or whatever. i work on modern ot cars for a living and i like the fuel economy, good drivability and low maintenance required of modern fuel injection. it just doesnt belong on something being labeled traditional.

 

You have to look very close at this engine to see what's going on. I study this one every time I see it at the local shows.

 

That is a really good awnser ...

 

Fenders = Great Success, nice build, is a very nice.

 

I wouldn't call it traditional, but like you said it can be "traditional styled" and in my opinion be cool. I wouldn't be showing off the motor though.

 

If a tree falls in the woods and no one is around, does it still make noise? Think about it!!

 

I can't look very close from here, so I'd like to know what's going on. Very nice truck.

 

Sure....as long as you keep the hood closed....

 

You can go to a lot of expense and trouble to hide EFI or Disc brakes or Electronic ignition!

The real deal is to drive a truly traditional Hot Rod or Custom!

 

Im stealing the lady gaga quote! ahaha!
But on topic, i think it was said best, just dont call it traditional. I will be running 3 carbs on my 53 F100 but will be backed by an AOD. i want to drive it a lot and will just call it traditional inspired.

 

Sounds like a street rod to me

 

no reason for efi upgrades

 

the poltical pressue on nascar is astounding
brad kesolowski spilled the beans

 

I would say run whatever combination of engine and parts you want in your ride, it's no ones business except your own. A lot of today's so call traditionalists, are beginning to sound like the Gennie guys where every nut and bolt has to be factory perfect. In the day we would used what ever we could find and adapt to our rides. Hot Rodding is about making different car parts work together as a whole.
If, the ride has the 40's, '50's, '60's traditional look with WWW, it's lowered looking like a cool cruiser, it doesn't matter what's under the hood or under the floor boards.
If, you want to run power disc brakes, radials, power steering etc go for it that's what Hot Rodding is all about being innovative and exploring all possible avenues.
I like my hood closed although it has a fully dressed engine compartment, Our so called traditionalists would say my SBC Chevy isn't traditional, I have news for them it is very traditional.

CRUISER

 

the traditional line is crossed quite a bit here. but, there is a way to upgrade without in your face look at me with all of the modern stuff on my car.

 

Well now, don't get me wrong I'm a Kustom guy and I know shit about engines. However, I do know my good friend Jim Turnbull's roadster runs flathead with EFI. From the Royal Kustoms website;

"Here’s where it all began, with Jim’s 324 cui Flathead that he built for his 1932 Ford Roadster.
This baby has been fully race prepped & blue printed & is equally at home on the street as on the drag strip.
4 1/4 inch stroke crank, 3 1/2 inch bore with one off custom pistons (making a whopping 324 cubic inches), Weiand supercharger with electronic fuel injection on a custom intake manifold.
All contributing to a world record breaking 12.7 second 1/4 mile @ 109.8 mph."

And it does look pretty traditional;

sorry, did I say traditional? What I meant was freaking stunning. You have to see this car in person to appreciate properly. So, although it is coming from someone with absolutely no clue about engines, I would say yes, a traditional looking car can have EFI.
Paul

 

Say Vergil, now that you have our interests peaked, how about some shots of the motor / accessories, please? Gary

 

I've seen 2 that I could live with...this one and an EFI converted Hilborn on a 34 P/U. I wish he didn't paint the "air intake horns" red though. I always wonder how many people walk past this and have no clue.

I do not like any of the commercial EFIs that are supposed to mimic the early carbs. They just look too phoney to my eye.

 

I don't want to get off track from the post or hijack it, but it is a 276, Ross, Schneider, Manley ProFlo, ported and etc. Centerforce flywheel and pressure plate, t5, 40' banjo rear with spring behind axle and the modern axle upgrade. Under intake manifold full sequential fuel injection, computer controls ignition and fuel injection.

Vergil

 

Like Bad Bob said....keep the hood closed.........Oh, don't forget that you must run radial tires with EFI.

 

I would call this truck a work of art! You should see under the cowl!!
Vergil its your truck and it is a beauty.

 

Chain the hood down & lock it. You can if ya want , who am i to say .
B.B.