Holley TBI opinions?

[Crankylove]

My brother just gave me a new in the box (although he bought it two years ago) Holley two barrel stand alone TBI kit. I would like to put it on my '86 F-250, 460 V-8, non-catalyst, no computer, and was wondering if some of you had any expereince with this, or similar kits. It says it will support up to 275 hp, and flow 670cfm, which, I would think would be adequate for a bone stock '86 460. I am not really expecting much in the way of power gains or mileage increase, although they would both would be nice , but would like it more for cold, winter morning starts, and am also hoping it may alleviate some of the bogging I experience while wheeling at slow speeds for extended amounts of time, and creeping over rough sections of road and hills. My truck runs good now, and I am not really having issues with the carb (other than the damn electric choke) that I can't live with, but, I now have a FREE TBI that has never even been out of the box other than to make sure all parts and pieces are there. So, any thoughts or suggestions on this? Will it flow enough for my big block? Tips and tricks for installation and tuning? Any good or bad experiences you could share? All info and opinions appreciated

 

[lewis]

So what is it really suppose to go to? If it suppose to go to a smaller motor than putting it on yours will open up a huge can of worms and take alot of tinkering to get it running right. I can't speak for fords but I did this for a chevy and it took me 2 years to get it running good. I put a tbi for a 350 on a small block 400, both chevs. I ended up having ot put a chip from a 454 tbi in my computer cause one was not made for the 400 becasue it ran to lean. Than it ran too rich and on and on. Also fwiw I have talked to a few people that had a holley tbi, none ran good.

 

[Crankylove]

Thanks for the info Lewis. It was ordered to go on a Ford 390 my brother has in his '76 F-250, but he never installed it, and is now selling the truck. I was kinda worried that the cubic inch difference may be an issue. The instruction say displacement dosen't matter, and there is a way to set it to either small or big block fuel maps, and then you have to tune it for your engine. There are no chips to install, just adjusting for small or big block, and then fine tuning the fuel delivery on the control box. I have heard some good things from people who have run the Edelbrock systems, but no one I know, or have talked to has used a Holley before. It would be nice to put it on, but like I said, the truck dosen't really need it, just thought since I got it for free, I would see if it would work for me.

 

[lewis]

If its says it should work then you might not have the same issues and problems I did. It sounds like it will work, just depends on how much you want to tinker with it. Once mine was fine tuned there was no comparison on how much better it ran. The throttle response was so much quicker and the motor just screamed. After that I will never go back to carb.

 

[Greg]

The Holley ProJection in the most unreliable POS fuel injection system ever built. Sell it, throw it in the garbage, set it on fire, whatever... don't put it on your rig. Especially if you don't need it, as you say. You've been warned...

 

[Crankylove]

Once mine was fine tuned there was no comparison on how much better it ran. The throttle response was so much quicker and the motor just screamed. After that I will never go back to carb.

Thats the kinda of performance I am hoping for, but, then I would get worse milage cause I couldn't keep my foot off the skinny pedal I will probably end up giving it a try, only half a dozen wires and a temperature sensor to hook up, so I guess I could throw the carb back on if it didn't work out too well.

 

[Milner]

It won't feed a 460. I have a hard time feeding my 351W with one. I have gone to bigger injectors, and some other stuff.

 

[Crankylove]

The Holley ProJection in the most unreliable POS fuel injection system ever built. Sell it, throw it in the garbage, set it on fire, whatever... don't put it on your rig. Especially if you don't need it, as you say. You've been warned...

It is indeed a Holley PRO_JECTION 2D system. And knowing my brother, he probably bought it because, at the time, it was about $200 cheaped than a comparable (as far as cfm and hp rating) Edlebrock. Not hearing of anybody I talked to running one was kinda worrin me a little as far as it being a quality product, and it dosen't seem so far that the opinions here are any different. Maybe I could sell it a get me a winch or, maybe even some mud flaps

 

[Greg]

It is indeed a Holley PRO_JECTION 2D system. And knowing my brother, he probably bought it because, at the time, it was about $200 cheaped than a comparable (as far as cfm and hp rating) Edlebrock. Not hearing of anybody I talked to running one was kinda worrin me a little as far as it being a quality product, and it dosen't seem so far that the opinions here are any different. Maybe I could sell it a get me a winch or, maybe even some mud flaps

I had one on a SBC in my CJ5... it was completely un-tunable (opened loop system) and would often die on me, leaving my Jeep stranded. I spent many, MANY hours on the phone with the Holley tech dept. They recommended I replace the injectors... did that, no change. They recommended I change my fuel pump, did that... no change. Recommended I move my fuel pump, did that.. no change. That Projection system caused me so much headache I wanted to burn my Jeep to the ground.

I wouldn't recommend that product to anyone... biggest POS ever.

 

[Tacoma]

OPEN loop sucks ass.. but there is a closed-loop addon available that makes it a whole different ball game... for MOST of those kits. I'd check into that. They do take some fiddling, but once you get that handled, you're golden. And you have some on-the-fly tuning if you've got the box w/the switches... lot of my friends back east love them, but ONLY w/the O2 sensor/closed loop.

YMMV

 

[Tacoma]

did you say you want to sell it? Hmmmm

might work alright on say... a Land Cruiser engine. Hmmmmmm

 

[Crankylove]

OPEN loop sucks ass.. but there is a closed-loop addon available that makes it a whole different ball game... for MOST of those kits. I'd check into that. They do take some fiddling, but once you get that handled, you're golden. And you have some on-the-fly tuning if you've got the box w/the switches... lot of my friends back east love them, but ONLY w/the O2 sensor/closed loop.

YMMV

My truck is a non-catalyst, with the dual smog pumps, so it would have to be the open loop setup. With the smog pumps running with an O2 sensor installed, I have heard it would always want to run too rich, and really be a pain to tune it right. I would also have to plumb return lines to both tanks, and get a different transfer valve to allow use of both tanks, which isn't a huge issue, but on top of whatever tuning problems I would have, it jsut dosen't sound like fun. I was kinda up in the air about installing it before, which is why i posted for opinions, and after hearing some opinions, from some pretty knowledgable people here on the forum, I really don't think I want to mess with it. Any of the more mechanical stuff on the truck I can do no problem, but fuel injection and carbs is kinda black magic to me. I asked my brother about selling it, since I wouldnt really feel right about selling it after he gave it too me specifically for my truck, and he is pondering it right now, so if anybody with a little more know how about this type of thing is interested, it may pop up for sale in a couple days. Thanks for the info guys, I think you have saved me a big headache.

 

[Tacoma]

Everything you just posted makes good sense. For your setup, I think you're better off without it.

 

[jsudar]

Sell it on ebay and let some other poor soul deal with it. I have nothing good to say about those old Holley systems.
If you do decide to install it, don't throw your carb away. You'll need it again.

 

[Crankylove]

My brother finally decided to sell his TBI. If anybody is interested it will be listed in the for sale section.