Announcing a 2 year experiment

[rushpowersystems]

Finally I am getting around to posting this and some photos of the Jeep, just off vacation and end of year work have been taking up too much time.

here is the plan I bought this Jeep CJ5 for $700 only changes made were, HEI distributor, new oil pump, gaskets, power brakes, dash with all new gauges, sound system, 200 amp alternator, re wire job, dual 12" electric fans, and weber carb that I rebuilt.

The plan is I am going to run it for one season and record milage and performance, then next winter I am going to convert it to fuel injection, most likely using a MegaSqurt kit. Then the following year I will do the same tests so see the results.

Now I have several trophies to attest to my ability to rebuild carbs but just to eliminate the possibility that I screwed up something I am going to go with a new weber before I pull this thing out of winter hibernation. I will also change to a header and possibility a new intake but both will remain the same for the test.

Any suggestions for the test are appreciated, just want to make sure I cover all the bases.

Check out the Jeep here

 

[IOPort51]

Finally I am getting around to posting this and some photos of the Jeep, just off vacation and end of year work have been taking up too much time.

here is the plan I bought this Jeep CJ5 for $700 only changes made were, HEI distributor, new oil pump, gaskets, power brakes, dash with all new gauges, sound system, 200 amp alternator, re wire job, dual 12" electric fans, and weber carb that I rebuilt.

The plan is I am going to run it for one season and record milage and performance, then next winter I am going to convert it to fuel injection, most likely using a MegaSqurt kit. Then the following year I will do the same tests so see the results.

Now I have several trophies to attest to my ability to rebuild carbs but just to eliminate the possibility that I screwed up something I am going to go with a new weber before I pull this thing out of winter hibernation. I will also change to a header and possibility a new intake but both will remain the same for the test.

Any suggestions for the test are appreciated, just want to make sure I cover all the bases.

Check out the Jeep here

The milage is pretty easy to measure, how do you measure "performance"?

 

[rushpowersystems]

Dyno testing, 1/4 mile, things like that. Milage will be the main thing to test.

This idea came from the fact that street rod guys are very reluctant to go with fuel injection. I know we are not talking street rods here but I do a tech article for a local street rod news letter, the Mountain West Street Rod News. If I can show a huge difference in a 4x4 with 35" tires then I may be able to convince them. I am building a Jeep because I don’t like to drive to a show and sit and look at the same cars every show, better to go to Moab and damage fender on the same rock every outing.

 

[Thorwon]

I'll be watching.

 

[certifiablejeep]

Are you going to put an ankle tether in place, so when you are just driving around, you don't "get on it"? LOL.

It is tough, same roads, different mood/attitude causes slow/fast response time with the skinny pedal.

I am sure over time averages will be better, but it is tough to compare apples/oranges except for documented conditions.

cb

 

[Old Dog]

The plan is I am going to run it for one season and record milage and performance, then next winter I am going to convert it to fuel injection, most likely using a MegaSqurt kit. Then the following year I will do the same tests so see the results.


Any suggestions for the test are appreciated, just want to make sure I cover all the bases.

Check out the Jeep here

Is the magaSquirt a tbi setup?

 

[rushpowersystems]

Are you going to put an ankle tether in place, so when you are just driving around, you don't "get on it"? LOL.

It is tough, same roads, different mood/attitude causes slow/fast response time with the skinny pedal.

I am sure over time averages will be better, but it is tough to compare apples/oranges except for documented conditions.

cb

Well the fact is this will not be 100% scientific, perhaps something between climategate and the moon landing, I don’t know. I have just never seen this done and want to see the results. Some things will be easy, such as 20 degree angle and the carb loaded up, but the main thing will be MPG.

Is the magaSquirt a tbi setup?

Sorry I thought I had a link for that. Yes MegaSquirt is a build it your self ECU, and that may be my problem. We have used them and they are fantastic, but the first time is like building your first PC. I really want to use the MS but the tech article will be mostly read by the silver hair crowed, most of them cant even use a computer, so building one will not happen. But on the other hand its my Jeep, so I will probably just do it my way, ah hell lets just forget this whole thing I am ordering the FI stuff today!

 

[IOPort51]

If you are very lucky, you too, may become a "silver hair".
So, are you building a mega squirt or not??
I started to read the web site and it is doable, for certain.
What motor does your CJ run? If you are using the AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l I would suggest a test. From a standing start in 2nd gear up a moderate but convenient grade, elapsed time to given RPM, Perhaps 2500 RPM. These will exhibit any improvement in power in the l6 optimum power range. I know this will not do a lot for the drag strip crowd but is may allow the motor show off at something it is good at.

Well the fact is this will not be 100% scientific, perhaps something between climategate and the moon landing, I don’t know. I have just never seen this done and want to see the results. Some things will be easy, such as 20 degree angle and the carb loaded up, but the main thing will be MPG.



Sorry I thought I had a link for that. Yes MegaSquirt is a build it your self ECU, and that may be my problem. We have used them and they are fantastic, but the first time is like building your first PC. I really want to use the MS but the tech article will be mostly read by the silver hair crowed, most of them cant even use a computer, so building one will not happen. But on the other hand its my Jeep, so I will probably just do it my way, ah hell lets just forget this whole thing I am ordering the FI stuff today!

 

[rushpowersystems]

The real challenge to me is this, I would rather go wheeling and tinker with a Jeep than build a street rod but the mag I write for is a street rod mag. If I buy a $700 Jeep that will get up close and personal with many rocks I am more than willing to do an experiment that may show the difference between FI and carb. If I drop street rod cash it is going to get FI from day one. Right now I am doing end of year stuff so after we close out the books I will spend some time on it next month and decide which way to go. Yes I have the AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l , I will need to spend some time with it to make sure I have a strong base for the test. I don’t want to toss a rod mid way through.

 

[IOPort51]

sound wisdom, the loss of mechanical integrity would be embarrassing, to say the least.

The real challenge to me is this, I would rather go wheeling and tinker with a Jeep than build a street rod but the mag I write for is a street rod mag. If I buy a $700 Jeep that will get up close and personal with many rocks I am more than willing to do an experiment that may show the difference between FI and carb. If I drop street rod cash it is going to get FI from day one. Right now I am doing end of year stuff so after we close out the books I will spend some time on it next month and decide which way to go. Yes I have the AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l , I will need to spend some time with it to make sure I have a strong base for the test. I don’t want to toss a rod mid way through.