Thread: 3.5 going into a 89 with exsiting 3.9

reckon its a good idea can normally get better economy out of the efi systems, but can be mroe technical and mroe things to go wrong than carby. I have been through so many carby motors and cant really fiddle with them too easy so am giving it a go with EFI V8 into an old HQ panelvan. Mixed comments and thoughts from people but I am happy with my choice yours should be mroe straight forward, i know with mine i need to upgrade fuel lines ,etc, and new guages that will work with the new motor and ecu. Might be different with yuors though if it already had an existing ecu (mine never did) or if it didnt then you might need to go down same path when plumbing it all up. My ecu has been remapped for my specific conversion. haha sorry probably make no sense, im hopeless at explaining things. And sorry for really bad typing my hand is not working too well today at all.

It would seem that Megasquirt is the ultimate in DIY systems, but there's a lot of reading to do first. And someone on here was recommending a Ford system, though I don't know anything about it.

So far, I've stuck with carbies!

Originally Posted by RRover89

Hi all,

Just aquired my second rangie - 89'
My first rangie 82' 2 door was a delight (to me) however a tired body and interior and the offer of a 4 door, suited the family. 2 door now in parts

I scored a 89 and my question is... I am replacing the engine in the 89 with my 3.5l, (did it up, love it and can't part with it) which should be straight forward however I am thinking of getting rid of my holley carb and manifold and bolting on a EFI system -possible use the 3.9 manifold and gear and upgrading/chipping the ECU

Thoughts? Any after market ideas.

Cheers all

You will have to change the camshaft (swap camshafts) in the 3.5L to accept the later EFI system.

You will also have to add all the sensors into the engine that are needed for the EFI system.

A mate of mine told me about this. He tried to do it but gave up. I'm not sure but i think he said he ran it with the old camshaft and done some damage so he gave up. I'll ask him for a few more details for you when i see him next.

It can be done. But a P.I.N.A. he said.

It's not just a bolt on thing unfortunately.

Cheers

Jeremy

Originally Posted by 83classicjeza

You will have to change the camshaft (swap camshafts) in the 3.5L to accept the later EFI system.



Cheers

Jeremy

Be interested to know why i need to change the camshaft

Originally Posted by RRover89

Be interested to know why i need to change the camshaft

Not exactly sure, perhaps Valve opening duration different on EFI vs carb, but I do know that there are definitely different cam profiles sold for the 2.

Slightly less overlap for better vacuum on the EFI, says a book I've got. But really, on any V8 that you don't know for sure has a new cam, you just change it anyway. Unless oil changes are done regularly, they don't seem to last long.

Well, engine in amongst doing other stuff - LT230 conversion to name one.


Wasn't to bad, had to swap the clutch and of course radiator.
Using original petrol pump in (which the seal played up so cut a access hole in the floor to get to the pump)


Decided to stick with my holley setup but its not playing ball as its leaking petrol after shut down - running its fine, but you leave it for abit and there's petrol near the butterflys.
Float levels are fine...


The joys!

Er am I to unsderstand that you are using an efi pump for a Holley?
EFI pumps work at about 60 PSI and carb pumps at about 4PSI. So you need a Facet or similar pump.

I don't know why you went to all the trouble .

You could have just used the bare 3.5 plus EFI cam and added the 3.9 injection stuff and it would have gone well.
If it was rich , a unichip would have fixed all that.

Regards Philip A