Changing from a Holly 4 barrell to EFI

skierbrant wrote: What sparked my interest in changing over to EFI was cost. I was talking with a car guy at my work. For a car, the cost is fairly inexpensive ($370 ish). SkierOx had given me the name of a company in Eau Claire, Wisconsin called Bigs Performance Products to get my Holy 4 barrel rebuilt. The cost he quoted me on the phone was $245 - $295 for the rebuild. If I could get a little better HP (not that I need it), I would give it a shot. I can't see spending $2300 to upgrade. I'd rather spend $9800 and put a new PCM 343 HP EX-343 engine in. So, I'm either going to buy the rebuild kit for $40 and rebuild the carb myself, or send it to Bigs Performance.

thats just for the throttle body, no injectors, harness, nor electronics

Gary,

You have it backwards. Getting towed, lowers the value. Doing the towing adds value.

I concur, given the situation the M-600 is best value

And get a good spin-on filter housing, throw the fram cartridge away and don't look back

I wouldn't put money into a rebuild of that carb with 2000 hours unless you are going to have the throttle shafts bushed. There will be quite a bit of wear on those shafts which translates into an unfixable vacuum leak and causes key start and idle issues.

I wouldn't even dream of a 300 dollar rebuild when I can grab up a superior carburetor for just shy of 200 more. Sort of like your 2300-9800 comparison on the efi conversion vs repower with modern engine. Why rebuild an old pile when for less than another rebuild more you can have the best new marine carb on the market. Do yourself a favor and pickup the quick fuel M-600.

Also, at 2000 hours I would also assess the health of your engine. Compression test to make sure you aren't seeing running issues from worn valves/low compression etc.

What sparked my interest in changing over to EFI was cost. I was talking with a car guy at my work. For a car, the cost is fairly inexpensive ($370 ish). SkierOx had given me the name of a company in Eau Claire, Wisconsin called Bigs Performance Products to get my Holy 4 barrel rebuilt. The cost he quoted me on the phone was $245 - $295 for the rebuild. If I could get a little better HP (not that I need it), I would give it a shot. I can't see spending $2300 to upgrade. I'd rather spend $9800 and put a new PCM 343 HP EX-343 engine in. So, I'm either going to buy the rebuild kit for $40 and rebuild the carb myself, or send it to Bigs Performance.

samudj01 wrote: Ha, that joke may never get old. Poor Donald had to do the towing but we have all been there. And to Greg's credit, I stopped by the other morning and he was hard at work putting in a new fuel gauge and sender. Fool him once shame on the boat, fool him twice shame on Donald, but not again!

David,

I also remember towing a Yellow Ski Tique at White Lake, but it did have fuel in it. I do believe I have a rare National or Regional Tow Boat.

When it comes to fuel consumption, I refer to our BFN as a BFP.

samudj01 wrote:    And to Greg's credit, I stopped by the other morning and he was hard at work putting in a new fuel gauge and sender.

Greg,
Both were bad? That's very unusual. How did you diagnose both were out?

NCH20SKIER wrote: I recently installed a Quick Fuel on the 85 Barefoot Nautique. Very pleased with the results

They've got one fussy little quirk tho, apparently you have to run gas through them for them to work.   

Brant,
Have you made any decisions yet on the EFI? Which system you will be using? The $2400.00 one Eric linked?

I see the EFI kit includes a "specialized O2 sensor bung"

Several questions were asked about the o2 sensor installation, but were never answered.

Kinda sketchy IMO

The thing I don't understand why anyone would spend this kind of money for essentially a band aid type system. In the last couple of years I have personally come across 4 GT40 engines being parted out. You could relatively cheaply install a computer controlled factory system yet the guys selling sat with them piecemealing parts off til little was left.

I agree Pete. A properly tuned carburetor will run 99-100% on par with an efi setup. If it doesn’t, it’s the mechanics fault. I foresee a Holley 4160 being produced 20 years from now. I do not foresee all the electronics being produced for the Gt40 or Excal engines in 20 years and especially not for aftermarket efi setups. Only possible advantage I see with efi is if the elevation you run your boat changes drastically.

erbrown101 wrote: Picked up one of these earlier this year. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/fst-30365-06kit/overview/ Going in an '88 2001 SN. Haven't had time to install yet.

direct link

Will do!