Need advice on what to do

So, I just acquired the 83 bronco with a 300 and c6 transmission. The vacuum system has been altered and not in a good way so it’s running extremely rich. I had plans to upgrade to a 3g alternator and a saginaw PS pump and do an EFI upgrade later, but at this point I think I’m leaning toward just knocking it all out now.

Here’s where it gets rough for me - I’m a bit lost on what’s the best way to go about this. Do I upgrade the intake to an offy and run a sniper efi system? In the meantime it sounds like I’ll need to convert to a serpentine setup for the Saginaw anyway (I’ve sourced one with bracket and bolts). I’m planning on reaching out to Holley and getting some advice there as a I don’t want to add the fuel pump to the take - my first project was to replace all the fuel lines, fuel lifter and tank as it had been sitting for 12 years.

There’s just a lot to consider and I’m not finding nearly enough standard advice that I’m used to when working on Merc diesels. With so many options I get full on paralysis by analysis.

Beside that, I don’t really know how to do any of this. So there’s that. LOL

I guess to put it succinctly. If price weren’t a real issue, what’s going to give me the best bang for the buck on a 300? I’m looking for drivability, not offroading, really.

Read this link: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1557261-holley-sniper-efi-install.html

It was written by Justin [a.k.a. AbandonedBronco].

Oooh this is good. I had seen a post there where he was asking about all this but hadn’t come across this one. That’s helpful for sure!

1986F150Six wrote

Read this link: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1557261-holley-sniper-efi-install.html

It was written by Justin [a.k.a. AbandonedBronco].

Also know he has a built up 300 so I don't know if that would make a difference on the EFI and how it will work.

The 83 would be a feed back system right?
If so then just a carb & dist. change is all it would take to remove most of the vacuum lines and the feed back wiring.

Now you would be looking at a new tank & sender with either carb or EFI. I would look into a sender that would work with your gauge and have a return on it so if you want to go EFI the tank has one.
I know some tanks use a low psi lift pump in the tank that then feeds a high psi pump on the frame rail.
I don't know if the low psi pump only would work with a carb with out a regulator or not?
But that may be a way to go on the tank / sender.

I have seen it posted some feed back carbs work with out the feed back computer and others that don't?
I    would look in to a non-feed back carb to replace the one you have unless you are going with EFI off the bat.
Then all you have to deal with would be the feed back dist. If going with EFI what ever non-feed back dist. you go with just make sure it will work with it. No need to   buy 2 dist. because you did not check first.

Because I am cheap and lazy I look for the cheap & easy way to get to the end. (most of the time )
I don't see anything wrong with the stock non-feed back 1v carb and DSII dist. in my 81 F100, it starts & runs good all the time.
Just my .02
Dave ----

1986F150Six wrote

Read this link: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1557261-holley-sniper-efi-install.html

It was written by Justin [a.k.a. AbandonedBronco].

He mentions getting 11MPG... Don't you get 20+MPG David? For that money I'd rather stick with my Edelbrock even if I never manage to get it above 10MPG! Or go back to my old cut-up 'limp home mode' original setup that got 15+MPG. It drove like a dog though, so maybe not.

His description of the driving experience does sound nice... So I guess if money isn't an issue, the Sniper system could be the way to go.

I don't think AbandonedBronco drives for best mileage... he rather enjoys letting the engine rev a bit!

This was him driving before adding FI:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJ61J3HZxmw

And more:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcSto4T4F1o

With a sniper youll see easily out of the box a 3 to 5 mpg increase in economy over a carb.  If you take and have it tuned professionally Ive seen people get as much as 8 to 10 mpg increase in economy over a carb.

But that all depends on how you set it up as well as how you drive it.  Mine with tuning I am hopeful for 17/18 mpg city and 23/24 mpg highway with my setup.

As far as hook up goes, its very straight forward just follow the installation instructions for wiring.  The big thing is make sure you have resistor plugs and suppression spark plug wires I believe the rule of thumb for plug wires is to have over 500 ohms of resistance and you will be good to not induce RFI into the sniper circuits causing a whole issue of problems.

Another thing to do I strongly recommend is getting the sniper throttle lever extension, without your throttle will be quite stiff and will break away preventing you from applying small amounts of throttle off idle.  With the extension it helps reduce the effort needed and makes the pedal apply more smoothly for fine control.

Sac79 wrote

1986F150Six wrote

Read this link: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1557261-holley-sniper-efi-install.html

It was written by Justin [a.k.a. AbandonedBronco].

He mentions getting 11MPG... Don't you get 20+MPG David? For that money I'd rather stick with my Edelbrock even if I never manage to get it above 10MPG! Or go back to my old cut-up 'limp home mode' original setup that got 15+MPG. It drove like a dog though, so maybe not.

His description of the driving experience does sound nice... So I guess if money isn't an issue, the Sniper system could be the way to go.

Right now I am only getting mid 14's MPG, that is before the over drive but I also added AC.
My 02 Durango 5.9 EFI motor, auto OD, 3.92 gear with AC on just pulled a 16 MPG even most of the time mid 15's.
So if I can get 15 to 16 with my carbed six it would make me happier but I enjoy driving the pick up.
Dave ----

With a sniper you should see that and possibly better.  Most people with properly tuned snipers I see speak of 17 - 19 mpg city on the sniper owners group over on FB.

.

Rusty_S85 wrote

With a sniper you should see that and possibly better.  Most people with properly tuned snipers I see speak of 17 - 19 mpg city on the sniper owners group over on FB.

Is that for a straight six or v8's and they in cars or trucks shaped like a brick?
What other work was done at that time?
Like on my truck I added the over drive but I also got the AC working so I cant see the MPG going up all that much if at all till I can drive the truck with out the over drive.

I think that makes a big difference that they only to the EFI upgrade and nothing else.
I don't have FB so I cant check it out.
Dave ----

1986F150Six wrote

I don't think AbandonedBronco drives for best mileage... he rather enjoys letting the engine rev a bit!

This was him driving before adding FI:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJ61J3HZxmw

And more:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcSto4T4F1o

4500RPM in 2nd... OK, I get the mileage. All things considered it's excellent I think.

His engine is strong! A stock engine with 1 barrel and log exhaust manifold and stock muffler with catalytic converters literally runs out of breath around 3K RPMs.

1986F150Six wrote

His engine is strong! A stock engine with 1 barrel and log exhaust manifold and stock muffler with catalytic converters literally runs out of breath around 3K RPMs.

And with EFI and no cat I cant see taking it over 2500 RPM and most of the time I shift at or below 2000 RPM
The 300 six pulls at a low RPM so I don't see the need to run it out all that high.
Dave ----

Yeah, when I was reading through his proposed build in another thread I noted all the other adjustments he’d made and just didn’t feel comfortable that my set up would be comparable.

Most of these conversions are done on cars and trucks with simmilar brick like aerodynamics.  Most of them are fullsize cars like impala`s, chevelles, fairlanes, then you got some trucks like ours, broncos, blazers, etc.

On average with a tune to get the fuel map proper for your specific engine, you should see city miliage around what your carb was getting at highway miliage.

I6 or V8 wouldnt make much difference outside of the exact number of mpg.  they will see a improvement cause carbs are not that efficient as an  EFI setup like this that is constantly swinging rich to lean to rich to maintain proper air fuel ratio.

Any thoughts on the intake upgrades?

Typically: Offenhauser 4 barrel ["C" type] aluminum intake, Offenhauser 4 barrel DP [two ports], Clifford 4 barrel and the elusive Clifford 2 X 4 barrel, which with adapters can mount 2 barrel carburetors.

The C Offy is what I had thought.

Here’s where I’m having a ton of wasted time researching - upgrading to a serpentine system. I’ve already ordered and committed to upgrading the alternator to a 3G. Currently the one I purchased has serpentine belt set up. I also had a source for the saginaw PS pump, but it’s set up for serpentine as well.  I understand that I need to change the water pump to reverse the spin, but is there a kit somewhere that has the things I need to convert? Pulley, idlers, etc. I’m not finding anything for the 300 I6.

FrazerJames wrote

The C Offy is what I had thought.

Here’s where I’m having a ton of wasted time researching - upgrading to a serpentine system. I’ve already ordered and committed to upgrading the alternator to a 3G. Currently the one I purchased has serpentine belt set up. I also had a source for the saginaw PS pump, but it’s set up for serpentine as well.  I understand that I need to change the water pump to reverse the spin, but is there a kit somewhere that has the things I need to convert? Pulley, idlers, etc. I’m not finding anything for the 300 I6.

On the belt setup you need everything from a 300 six that used that system.
IIRC the EFI trucks used that system so IIRC 87 to the end like mid 90's.
Now I think it was the vans that used the PS pump you want to use don't know if the later PU used it or not?

Now just because the 3G has a serp belt pulley it is an easy swap to V belt.
Pull the serp pulley off add a flat washer and install the V belt pulley and done.
As for the PS pump the vans used that pump with V belt so think 80 - 86 is what you would be looking for.

In the picture the PS pump is using the outer most groove on the crank, that is where the AC belt needed to be and does not go over the water pump like it needs on an AC truck.

So I had to space the PS pump back to use the center groove on the crank pulley when I installed the AC compressor and change out the water pump pulley to have 3 same dia. grooves for the 3 belts.
Dave ----

Yeah, I think you’re right - The only thing that was making me think serp was the set up for the Saginaw PS and that the V belts can keep up with the 130 amp alternator (But I assume that as long as I’m not pulling a ton voltage, it won’t be an issue).

I suppose if I can find a saginaw for v belt and just switch the pulley on the alternator, it’ll be fine.