| Trip Report [message #309048] |
Wed, 19 October 2016 15:07  |
Jon payne
Messages: 495
Registered: May 2008
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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This year was not the best for the GMC. Immediately after attending the work rally in Bainesbridge Indiana this past May, one of the head gaskets failed, fortunately just minuets from my house. So I removed both cylinder heads and had them rebuilt (per Dick Paterson's specifications) at a local machine shop. Reinstalled the heads then during the initial test drive I could hear what sounded like the transmission drive chain rubbing on the outer cover! So as I had other priorities to deal with the GMC sat all summer long until first week in October when I finally got to the transmission. During the time it was parked I did manage to replace the last two pieces in the steering system, the relay lever and Idler Arm, all from Dave Lenzi. Also during this time I installed a FiTech EFI and their fuel sump (aka "Command Center").
So needless to say last weekends camping trip, the first trip of the year, I was very excited to see how the GMC was going to run and drive. Our trip was only 230 miles round trip but went off without a hitch. The Manny Tranny worked flawlessly, the steering is now unbelievably good. Regarding the steering I didn't think it could get much better after replacing the steering box and upper control arms with ones from Dave Lenzi a few years ago. Many of you know that Dave's upper control arms allow for more caster and that combined with his steering box made for a great drive. So after replacing the relay lever and idler arm I was ecstatic to find the steering is even better. There is absolutely zero play in the system and she tracks straight as an arrow, and even during a heavy crosswinds the steering was very manageable and could drive with just two fingers.
So what about the FiTech EFI? One word....WOW! First thing I noticed during the test drive was the instantaneous throttle response. Prior to the EFI, when taking off from a stop it always seemed to labor to get going, now push down on the gas and she takes off immediately and even seems to have more power but I really think it is the excellent throttle response that gives that perception. The carb I removed was rebuilt 8 years ago by Jim Bounds and a very good rebuild for sure but I think after 8 years soaking in ethanol it was in need of another rebuild. In fact when I removed the carb there was a puddle of fuel in the intake so it had been leaking. Now with the FiTech ethanol is no longer a problem as it can handle E85.
Although we didn't get to enjoy our GMC this summer it did end on a good note. This weekend, sadly I will pack her away for winter hibernation.
Jon
Jon Payne
76 Palm Beach
Westfield,IN
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| Re: Trip Report [message #309058 is a reply to message #309048] |
Wed, 19 October 2016 18:25  |
jricke
Messages: 29
Registered: June 2007
Location: Arden Hills, MN
Karma: 0
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Junior Member |
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Jon,
Good news. Looks like you are set up nicely for future trips!
Did you install the 400 or 600 Fitech unit?
And, if the 600, did you opt for spark control?
Thanks
Joe Ricke - KE0CPM
Arden Hills, MN
'77 Transmode
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| Re: Trip Report [message #309086 is a reply to message #309058] |
Thu, 20 October 2016 09:36 |
Jon payne
Messages: 495
Registered: May 2008
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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Hi Joe,
I installed the 600HP with timing control. Since our HEI unit is not compatible with the timing control feature (you need a two-wire distrib)and the fact I have a Dick Paterson distributor that works great I'm not considering using this feature at this time.
Jon
Jon Payne
76 Palm Beach
Westfield,IN
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| Re: Trip Report [message #309129 is a reply to message #309048] |
Thu, 20 October 2016 21:18 |
Scott Nutter
Messages: 782
Registered: January 2015
Location: Houston/San Diego
Karma: 4
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Senior Member |
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Joe,
Pretty coincidental, I'm struggling with the same issue.
I'm getting a Patterson engine and wondering about EFI. The only one now I would be interested in would be the Fitech. But I would like to have more info. I'm still on the bubble because the carb has always gotten me home.
Anything to convert me to EFI would be appreciated, and thanks, Scott.
P.S. I have had the same pool on the intake.....
Scott Nutter
1978 Royale Center Kitchen, Patterson 455, switch pitch tranny, 3.21 final drive, Quad bags, Dave Lenzi super duty mid axle disc brakes, tankless water heater, everything Lenzi. Alex Ferrera installed MSD Atomic EFI
Houston, Texas
[Updated on: Thu, 20 October 2016 21:20] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: Trip Report [message #309146 is a reply to message #309129] |
Fri, 21 October 2016 14:05 |
Jon payne
Messages: 495
Registered: May 2008
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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Hi Scott,
For sure you can't go wrong with a well tuned Q-Jet, mine did well for many years. For me I didn't want to deal with the carb anymore and when the FiTech came out at what I thought was a very good price I couldn't resist. Before I took the plunge I did read a bunch of reviews, 95% was very positive, some reviews were negative but that mostly was towards the fuel command center issues which by the time I got mine those issues were supposedly resolved. I did get my set up from Jason at the thegmcrv.com.
Anyway, so far no regrets!
JMHO!
Jon
Jon Payne
76 Palm Beach
Westfield,IN
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| Re: [GMCnet] Trip Report [message #309157 is a reply to message #309156] |
Fri, 21 October 2016 18:11 |
k2gkk
Messages: 4452
Registered: November 2009
Karma: -8
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Senior Member |
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A fairly recently Fuel Injection system to replace carburetors in GMC engines.
Mac in OKC
Sent from my iPhone
On Oct 21, 2016, at 18:07, "jhsilva19@verizon.net" wrote:
What is FiTech...
J. Silva
-------Original Message-------
From: Jon Payne
Date: 10/21/2016 6:16:19 PM
To: gmclist@list.gmcnet.org
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Trip Report
Hi Scott,
For sure you can't go wrong with a well tuned Q-Jet, mine did well for many
years. For me I didn't want to deal with the carb anymore and when the
FiTech came out at what I thought was a very good price I couldn't resist.
Before I took the plunge I did read a bunch of reviews, 95% was very
Positive, some reviews were negative but that mostly was towards the fuel
command center issues which by the time I got mine those issues were
Supposedly resolved. I did get my set up from Jason at the thegmcrv.com.
Anyway, so far no regrets!
JMHO!
Jon
--
Jon Payne
76 Palm Beach
Westfield,IN
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| Re: [GMCnet] Trip Report [message #309166 is a reply to message #309146] |
Fri, 21 October 2016 19:34 |
kelvin
Messages: 608
Registered: February 2004
Location: Eugene, OR
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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On 10/21/2016 12:05 PM, Jon Payne wrote:
> Hi Scott,
>
> For sure you can't go wrong with a well tuned Q-Jet, mine did well for many years. For me I didn't want to deal with the carb anymore and when the
> FiTech came out at what I thought was a very good price I couldn't resist. Before I took the plunge I did read a bunch of reviews, 95% was very
> positive, some reviews were negative but that mostly was towards the fuel command center issues which by the time I got mine those issues were
> supposedly resolved. I did get my set up from Jason at the thegmcrv.com.
>
> Anyway, so far no regrets!
My FiTech will arrive on Monday. Planning a vacation day on Tuesday.
Jerry Work did a great job on his FiTech presentation at the WS Coos Bay
rally and I ordered immediately. Looking forward to the install.
Did it perform differently than your Q-jet, other than startup, of course.
And "Trip Report" isn't going to get many eyes on this thread hoping to
see EFI stuff. :^)
Kelvin
'73 23' in Eugene, OR
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| Re: [GMCnet] Trip Report [message #309168 is a reply to message #309166] |
Fri, 21 October 2016 20:04 |
Justin Brady
Messages: 769
Registered: April 2015
Location: Bell Buckle, TN
Karma: 11
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Senior Member |
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While mine hasn't been driven a lot yet (it's still being built) I think the FiTech has already been worth the investment just because every time I go to start it it starts without any protest or drama, just crank crank vroom.
The few miles I have put on it have been good. Cruising it's the same as a well setup carb obviously, it just fuel in the combustion chamber. But from a stop or accelerating it's a whole different animal.
I look forward to putting a ton of miles on her next year. We have a trip planned from here in TN at 800ft elevation to Montana at 7000+ so im hoping it works out as well as I think it will up there too.
Holley actually just came out with their new system to compete with FiTech. It's called the sniper. Very similar in design and execution so I look forward to seeing how that performs as well. I imagine people will be all over it with the Holley name and the FiTech price tag.
Justin Brady
http://www.thegmcrv.com/
1976 Palm Beach 455
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| Re: Trip Report [message #309209 is a reply to message #309048] |
Sun, 23 October 2016 08:00 |
jhbridges
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
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Senior Member |
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My caqrbureted 3.07 doesn't bog off a light - it pulls well but it doesn'
t accelerate like the 26' with the 3.70 which wil spin the wheels if one isn't careful. I suspect this circumstance had a lot to do with the seperation of one front tire. I'll point out as well, the Coopers ride a hell of a lot nicer than the BFGs.
--johnny
Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
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