Thread: 1988 Ford 351, EFi to carb???

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I am fishing for a drivetrain for my rat rod, and I came across a good running Bronco with a 351. 1988 was the first year of the throttle body I believe, anyone have any idea how hard it would be to switch over to a carb?
Thanks,
CHAZ

I did it to the '92 5.0 I put in my Jeep truck. You will need an intake manifold, carb, and probably a distributor and electric fuel pump. The reason I say "probably" is the distributor is set up for the computer. There may be a way to use it with carb, but someone else will have to give you that knowledge. The reason I say electric fuel pump is that generally engines that have fuel injection use an electric pump in the tank and have no provision on the timing cover for a mechanical pump.

Some people might say the cam profile is off, but mine worked perfectly as is.

I put an Edelbrock Performer intake and Edelbrock 600 cfm, with a Unilite distributor. It has been flawless for 4 years of use.

Don

If you want to get it running on the cheap, a Holley 2 barrel will bolt on the "central FI" manifold. The distributor probably has no mechanical advance, not sure about that, but not too hard to find an 80 or so pickup or LTD with a 351 carb and dist. Watch out for the horrible variable-venturi carbs, avoid 'em like the plague!

So I am assuming that there aren't fuel injectors in the heads like there are in my late model Mustang? I was afraid I would have to swap out the heads as well. Intake and dizzy doesn't sound too bad.
CHAZ

Nope, your fuel injection is that carb looking thingy.

Don

there may be a fuel injector on the side of the throttle body, but not part of the head. a 4.6L ( what your mustang has ) would be a good option if you wanted somthing with EFI, as you can get SOHC models from a early '90's Crown Vic/ Gran Marquise and there's lots of them wreacked with great engines. they sit right at 190 HP stock

Originally Posted by R Pope

Watch out for the horrible variable-venturi carbs, avoid 'em like the plague!

Hey now, I loved them carbs , specially when I figured out the tricks to settin em up and no body else could. They paid for a couple high horse big blocks

I figured out the trick to setting 'em up, too. I set 'em up on a post and blast 'em with a 12 guage shotgun.