Anyone out there running a 390 FE with either direct ignition or fuel injection?

Peter

 

Been there, done that. I've got an FE 390 with a Holley 700cfm Commander 950 electronic fuel injection system on it.

What are your questions?

 

What intake manifold are you running? I assume you had to put in the bungs yourself -
How did you angle the injectors? Are you running direct ignition? How did you mount the crank sensor?

 

No, no, no, and no. I got the TBI type system. It's got a 4 injector pod above the intake manifold. No modification necessary. Just squirts fuel down into the manifold. Not as efficient as a multi-port injection setup, but at 15mpg from a 390, I wont complain. Oh, the intake is a plain old Performer RPM.

No direct injection obviously.

No crank sensor. I'm using a Mallory Unilite distributor. It works fine when you curve it correctly. The Holley fuel injection computer CAN control timing, but I currently dont have it set up to. Once you get the timing curve where you want it, where's the advantage? Sure, if you're going racing every weekend you could change timing a lot easier, but since I'm not...

If you want to go with a real multi-port setup, I suggest you find an Edelbrock Streetmaster 390 intake manifold. It has the ports in line which will make it easier to run injectors.

 

rusty how much did that whole setup cost you? does it include the fuel pump? i assume you need to run a return line to the tank too.

 

The whole setup was around $1200, IIRC. It includes everything you need, computer, wiring harness, fuel pump, the whole 27' (9 yards...). The only thing I had to buy was the fuel line. And yes, you do have a return that goes back to the tank.

 

Is there a Computer with that system?
Or is it Mechanical?
If it's Mechanical, is it similar to the Bosch system used on the early 80's Volkswagons?
I'm curious about the timing pulses for the Throttle body. How do they handle that?

Also, does it start and idle smoothly?

 

I am putting together a multiport system for a 390 shortly, using a Megasquirt controller, DUI HEI distributor, and a 4BBL intake with a throttle body and adaptor from an EFI 460.
Here is a site that tells how to make the fuel rails and intake injector bungs. It deals primarily with using a Subaru engine in an aircraft, but the technology is the same.
http://sdsefi.com/air12.html

 

Ford_Six, did you say "a multiport" and also a "Throttle body" on the same engine?

 

The throttle body controls the airflow- it's a mulitport injection system.

 

What's the difference between the street master and the Victor intakes?

 

Wow Ford_Six, that look really complicated.

But let me know how the MegaSquirt works. I'm looking at MegaJolt for my switch to direct ignition. I really like the idea they are pursuing with public access engineering for fuel injectin.

 

So it looks like no one has ever done direct ignition on an FE engine - maybe I'll be the first.

Peter

 

The system I'm using has a computer. I can program it using my laptop. I have complete control over all fuel (and spark if I were utilizing that function) controls. It is Holley's design. See here. Startup is great, turn the key and it's going. No chokes, no pumping the accelerator pump, no cold start worries. It's great. When set properly, it idles nice and smooth. You can still "hear" the cam I've got in it, though.

The streetmaster was meant to be a lower-end single plane intake, for usage on the street. It is no longer manufactured, but is readily available from a number of sources. The Victor is a large single plane intake designed for one thing: High end power.

 

the streetmasters seem to bring very good money at swap meets and ebay most go for 200.00 the same price they were new or close to it in the 70's.