Fuel injection- Horse power- Help! 454

[choctawmel]

I got a TBI kit from Turbo City last winter. It's all Chevy parts with a custom wiring harness. Had to replace the distributor. All total I think the do-it-yourself job cost about $1800.
With the carb. I was getting 4 mpg and could not do the speed limit on the highway. With the TBI I get 6 mpg and can set the cruise and go 80 if I want to. At 55 I get 6.5 mpg. That 's pulling my Suzuki on a tow bar too.
Not bad for a old 454 with 80,000 miles on it.
mel
'86 345

[ALANSD]

my 454 Gets 7-8 mpg towing a Saturn with the generator running doing 55-60 mph.. I get 8-9 with no tow car. Clean carb, tornado installed, tuned up. ( don't tell me about the tornado I have heard it all... ask Sam Memolo)
The motor has about 40,000 miles on it.
Pulls uphill like a champ.

[choctawmel]

Originally Posted by ALANSD

my 454 Gets 7-8 mpg towing a Saturn with the generator running doing 55-60 mph.. I get 8-9 with no tow car. Clean carb, tornado installed, tuned up. ( don't tell me about the tornado I have heard it all... ask Sam Memolo)
The motor has about 40,000 miles on it.
Pulls uphill like a champ.

My engine is getting close to 73000 miles.
If probably is in need of a fresh cam and timing set, but then if I do that, I need to do the heads, and then new ring, wrist pins and connector rod bearings. If I go that far, should redo the bottom end and oil pump then BOOM before you know it I’ve done did myself a major overhaul. It I did do that I’d still have a 454, and I guess that’s why I haven’t yet.
Thought about finding a 8100’s gas or Duramax with a T-1000 trany, or a Cummins (with a plate, torque converter, starter, rearend and a lot of other part it would bolt right up to my Allison 545 trany and I‘d be getting 13+ mpg), thought about rebuilding it to a long stroke 454 (496, which is what the 8100 is) but still haven’t decided.
I guess I need to, before too long or I’ll be setting on the side of a mountain with a blown motor.

[outofcontrol]

I am really interested in doing this conversion, but I am reading more about the whole process, and how it works. I can see two basic options for guys like us: 1. Buy a kit with all new parts and technical support. 2. Find a donor vehicle and swap/steal all the parts.

Here’s a link to the AFI (affordable fuel injection) website. They have a motorhome specific conversion kit for $1350 for the 454. That comes with everything you need to do the job and some tech support.
http://www.affordable-fuel-injection.com/motorhome-fuel-injection-conversion.htm
They even have the installation instructions online which I like, so you can get an idea of what you’re getting into.
http://www.affordable-fuel-injection.com/web/TBI%20INSTALLATION%20INSTRUCTIONS.pdf

This is a site that explains in pretty good detail about how to gather the parts to do a TBI (Throttle Body Injection) conversion to a carb motor. It’s actually for IH (International Harvester) trucks, but they use GM parts to make the conversion, so it’s basically the same. Definitely more of a DIY method.
http://www.binderbulletin.org/forums/showthread.php?t=47254

-Kevin