Thread: Vintage Style EFI For 496" BBC With Hydraulic Roller Cam

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I'm interested in making my BBC look as retro and 50's-60's as possible. It's in my chopped and "Z-ed" '40 Chevy Sedan which I'm also trying to make as retro looking as I can. Having said all that, I'm considering a Hilborn or Inglese traditional styled EFI. I know they're pricey...I don't care. I just want "the look" of 50's-early 60's style fuel injection.
I've also considered dual quads, but in each instance I've researched, I've either found dual quads to be lacking in low end torque (street tunnel ram) or actually a step down in power from a single 4 bbl carb (see Super Chevy Magazine's comparison of Edelbrock's Air Gap single and dual 4 bbl applications...the 4 bbl made more power). I've tried to find info on the new Barry Grant Twin Pro dual quad setup but he doesn't even have info about it on his own website. And there doesn't seem to be anything about it on the internet except a basic description of it. So, I don't know if it's any better than the other traditional dual quad setups. IMHO, dual quads is the only multiple carb setup that looks like it belongs on a BBC. To me, tri-power and other multiple carb setups just don't.
I've considered a supercharger but I'd have to rebuild the bottom end for a super charger application. I don't want to spend that much money right now, having just rebuilt the engine a couple years ago.
So that brings me back to vintage looking EFI. According to the Hilborn and Inglese websites I'll be spending anywhere from about $4000-$7000. The Inglese system costs the least but I'm not sure if they have a BBC system yet. That may leave the Hilborn or perhaps the very similar Kinsler system as the only choices. And at about $7000, they're the most expensive.
Has anyone else out there gone through the same dilemma as me regarding vintage style EFI and a BBC? I will spend the money for it but I'd just like to know if there are any other, perhaps less expensive, options? Thank you for your comments.


Tom

a guy i know runs a kinsler on the street we drove a round abit his bbc 540 and two other blown bbc cars it seams to work fine .as for a tunnel ram i done it and if you use the right carbs and intake they will make good power so i could care less someone thinks. i know it works very good . been there done it more then one time. if your engine is not dead stock as for low end your not lacking in bottom end with a 496 ? put what you want on it. i do not think it,s going to hurt you that much at the bottom any way you go .you can run a blower if your CR is not to much you just use less boost so your bottom end may not need a rebuild if the CR is abit to hi you could use a head with a bigger chamber or re work the chambers on the heads you have or mill some of the dome off the piston if it has any ??

Tom

Do you mean a system like on the 32 in my photo gallery??? Thats a Hilborn unit

jerry

Pat,

Thanks for your comments. I thought I'd read where tunnel ram can be street friendly, depending on how you carburate and tune it.



Jerry,

Yeah, I like the looks of the vintage Hilborn units and I understand they adapt them to be electronic.




Tom

Tom

that is the efi unit from Hilborn

Jerry

Originally Posted by jerry clayton

Tom

that is the efi unit from Hilborn

Jerry

Very cool units. I grew up in the 50's and 60's and really like the Hilborn (and Crower) look. Converting it to EFI is icing on the cake.


Tom

Originally Posted by bgblk40

Very cool units. I grew up in the 50's and 60's and really like the Hilborn (and Crower) look. Converting it to EFI is icing on the cake.


Tom

yep i grew up to looking at a hilborn this one .one day i just may put one on my 632 or 735 if i do not sell them if i do one i want the old lay down ones that they use in can am road racing so i can get the hood to shut and pull air in thru were the hi beam lights are in my gto

A mate down here has a converted stack injection for his 540 BBC. Its on a 55 chev gasser with a straight axle. He runs it thru a MegaSquirt setup so getting parts up your way wouldnt be an issue.

Hes after NZ$4500 for the lot so it would be about US$3500 landed in your country

Every time I see one of those it brings back all the memories of the golden era (50's and 60's) of drag racing. I don't know how many models I built with engines similar to the one pictured. Bantam and Fiat altereds, gassers, and rails. Heck, even the old super modified dirt cars (precursors to sprint cars). For me, it's the ultimate look and setup on a retro looking street rod. My built 496" full roller BBC sounds nasty anyway...very lope-y. And with that look, I'd be driving my chopped and "Z-ed" '40 Chevy Sedan with a smile as wide as the windshield.


Tom

here is a cool set up

Oh yeah!


Tom

Originally Posted by wheelswoody

here is a cool set up

well yes it is... thats the one i want to put in my GTO. a guy i know did cast them but he would not get off the last one he had

Here is a Hilborn EFI that we put together for a customer. It's a 327.

We changed quite a few things from the stock Hilborn EFI setup.
1. Longer stacks make for better low-end torque.
2. We threw the Hilborn Carbine ECU away in favor of a F.A.S.T. ECU, which gave us better programmability, computer controlled ignition, and the ability to use an IAC to control idle.
3. Custom stainless throttle plates improved sealing during idle.
4. Custom lower plenum helps to equalize vacuum signals between cylinders, and gave us a place to install the IAC and MAP sensor.

Here is another Hilborn EFI we're working on - a 401 Buick Nailhead with a blower and a custom cast aluminum intake plenum. The injectors are hidden in the billet lower intake.

As you can imagine, we have been in contact with Hilborn tech support a time or two, and their service is top notch.

Now that brings a smile to an old man!

I recently bought an old Crower stack injection for a BBC (just before I got offered the converted setup) and looking at the Crower, it looks likes theres enough space in the plenum to hide the injectors and the other stuff that makes it look too modern.

Will play around with it over the coming year and and see if all the extra stuff fits.