| Howell fuel injection [message #179525] |
Wed, 08 August 2012 11:33  |
habbyguy
Messages: 896
Registered: May 2012
Location: Mesa, AZ
Karma: 3
|
Senior Member |
|
|
I've actually read a lot on the subject, but can't find anything that answers my current question.
I notice that the Howell FI system for our GMC motorhomes is a "fuel only" system, and doesn't control the ignition advance (which is, IMHO, really necessary).
Then I see that the Chevy big block (454ci) systems Howell sells can come with the "controllable" distributor so the system controls the fuel and ignition parameters (leading to higher performance / better economy).
I know you can adapt the GMCMH version of the Howell system to control the ignition (by buying a different distributor and wiring harness and having the ECM re-flashed, etc.), but I'm wondering if it might not be as good or better to just adapt the big block Chevy kit that comes with a controllable distributor to my 403ci Olds motor.
Thing is, I'm not sure it'll all bolt up, or if there's some fatal flaw in the connections that won't work across the GMC/Chevy divide. Are the distributors interchangeable, and will the throttle body bolt onto our Olds manifolds (never realized that rhymes before).
Mark Hickey
Mesa, AZ
1978 Royale Center Kitchen
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Howell fuel injection [message #179528 is a reply to message #179525] |
Wed, 08 August 2012 11:37  |
|
|
As I understand it, if you call Howell, they can supply their system with a
spark controlled distributor as well.
________________________________
From: Mark <mark@habcycles.com>
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Sent: Wed, August 8, 2012 9:34:05 AM
Subject: [GMCnet] Howell fuel injection
I've actually read a lot on the subject, but can't find anything that answers my
current question.
I notice that the Howell FI system for our GMC motorhomes is a "fuel only"
system, and doesn't control the ignition advance (which is, IMHO, really
necessary).
Then I see that the Chevy big block (454ci) systems Howell sells can come with
the "controllable" distributor so the system controls the fuel and ignition
parameters (leading to higher performance / better economy).
I know you can adapt the GMCMH version of the Howell system to control the
ignition (by buying a different distributor and wiring harness and having the
ECM re-flashed, etc.), but I'm wondering if it might not be as good or better to
just adapt the big block Chevy kit that comes with a controllable distributor to
my 403ci Olds motor.
Thing is, I'm not sure it'll all bolt up, or if there's some fatal flaw in the
connections that won't work across the GMC/Chevy divide. Are the distributors
interchangeable, and will the throttle body bolt onto our Olds manifolds (never
realized that rhymes before).
--
Mark Hickey
Mesa, AZ
1978 Royale Center Kitchen
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
Terry Taylor
'74 ex-Eleganza SE
San Lorenzo, CA
http://www.n6mon.org
http://dldesignstore.com
|
|
|
|
| Re: Howell fuel injection [message #179529 is a reply to message #179525] |
Wed, 08 August 2012 11:42 |
habbyguy
Messages: 896
Registered: May 2012
Location: Mesa, AZ
Karma: 3
|
Senior Member |
|
|
I have an option to buy a used big block Chevy system with the distributor, and was thinking that if it can be easily adapted to the Olds 403, I'd be way ahead of the game (even if I have to spend some bucks getting it tweaked).
Mark Hickey
Mesa, AZ
1978 Royale Center Kitchen
|
|
|
|
| Re: Howell fuel injection [message #179539 is a reply to message #179529] |
Wed, 08 August 2012 12:40 |
John Sharpe
Messages: 489
Registered: February 2006
Location: Texas
Karma: 1
|
Senior Member |
|
|
| Quote: |
I have an option to buy a used big block Chevy system with the distributor, and was thinking that if it can be easily adapted to the Olds 403, I'd be way ahead of the game (even if I have to spend some bucks getting it tweaked).
|
An Olds distributor is different from a Chevrolet. The Y engine Olds distributors are readily available. It's relatively easy to change the Howell wiring harness for computer controlled timing. There are members of this group that can help with a new prom or better yet go with the EBL system.
John Sharpe
Humble,TX
'78 Eleganza TBI
'89 Spectrum 2000 MPI V-10
'40 Ford Panel Delivery TPI
johnasharpe@gmail.com
|
|
|
|
| Re: Howell fuel injection [message #179541 is a reply to message #179539] |
Wed, 08 August 2012 12:53 |
habbyguy
Messages: 896
Registered: May 2012
Location: Mesa, AZ
Karma: 3
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Thanks, John... I suspected that the distributors wouldn't interchange (the shafts look very different, but the casting from the flared portion up look to be the same), but was hoping that the "controllable" Olds distributor would plug into the big block Chevy distributor plug (that is, that Chevy and Olds used the same ignition control scheme in their '90's distributors).
So if I could buy an Olds distributor and plug it into this big block Chevy system, and assuming the throttle body would bolt up (sure looks like it would), AND if I could "tune" the system for the GMC MH duty with a new PROM, I'd be off to the races!
Mark Hickey
Mesa, AZ
1978 Royale Center Kitchen
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Re: Howell fuel injection [message #179563 is a reply to message #179559] |
Wed, 08 August 2012 16:56 |
habbyguy
Messages: 896
Registered: May 2012
Location: Mesa, AZ
Karma: 3
|
Senior Member |
|
|
| rf_burns wrote on Wed, 08 August 2012 14:10 |
Mark,
Ken H. has a Goggle group setup for those of us interested in EFI, ask ken to include you in the group.
Most of us in the group have the Howell system and have added the EBL system to it. I'm an electronics guy so take it from me burning Proms testing and burning again gets pretty tedious after a bit. The EBL system allows you to have upto 8 selectable "Proms"or "Bins" switchable on the fly. Flash your updates on the fly etc.
www.dynamicefi.com
There are Bins already setup for the 455 or 403 engine on the site. Also lots of tips from those who have been there and done that.
|
Thanks, Bruce... I appreciate the input. I'm an electronics geek too (enough to appreciate - and cringe - at your screen name). I'm trying to figure out a way to get the high-altitude performance I need to climb up some pretty steep roads at 12,000 feet without breaking the bank TOO badly. I know that a dynamic EFI system will pay for itself eventually, but I'd prefer to keep the payback in my lifetime. That said, I'm also a hopeless gadget freak, and adding the display to the system would be VERY cool. Sigh...
I did request access to the google group (and perused the postings to it while waiting) - lots of good stuff there, to be sure. I guess I'll just have to immerse myself in the whole FI thing and learn all there is to know, and then figure out what I need to do. OTOH, if I could just push a known good 403ci BIN into the Howell system I'm looking at for now... I should be 80% of the way home. I'd just have to figure out how to incorporate the distributor control sometime later. And in the future, probably just go with the EBL "just because".
Mark Hickey
Mesa, AZ
1978 Royale Center Kitchen
|
|
|
|
GMCforum
Search
Help
Register
Login
Home
