Howell TBI installation issues

[jtw0524]

I am trying to install a howell tbi on my 77 CJ5 . My first problem is that I am trying to keep it California smog legal. My jeep came with a single bbl cast iron intake manifold, which wont work with the howell kit. I had been trying to figure out which way to roll with this project and thought I had. I live about ten minutes away from clifford performance and I had talked with jack quite a few times. He assured me his intake manifold was California legal and he had the adaptor for the howell kit. Well, here is where the problems start. First, with his intake, you cant use any of the egr stuff. There is also no ports on the intake for the cto valve, which causes more problems with vacuum lines. I am not sure where to go from here, and am starting to go insane. If anyone has any experience with this please help. Thanks in advance.

 

[IOPort51]

this is more a question that a statement, do fuel injected motors need an EGR?? I do not know for sure but I suspect not, can some one answer this?

I am trying to install a howell tbi on my 77 CJ5 . My first problem is that I am trying to keep it California smog legal. My jeep came with a single bbl cast iron intake manifold, which wont work with the howell kit. I had been trying to figure out which way to roll with this project and thought I had. I live about ten minutes away from clifford performance and I had talked with jack quite a few times. He assured me his intake manifold was California legal and he had the adaptor for the howell kit. Well, here is where the problems start. First, with his intake, you cant use any of the egr stuff. There is also no ports on the intake for the cto valve, which causes more problems with vacuum lines. I am not sure where to go from here, and am starting to go insane. If anyone has any experience with this please help. Thanks in advance.

 

[jtw0524]

Do they need one, No. Does stupid Ca require it to be smog legal yep. Thats why I am having all these problems. I hate these Ca liberal hippies.

 

[Purple77CJ7]

I run the EGR on my jeep with a Howell throttle body. 401 v-8. What is your jeep specs? There is no info.

 

[CJ]

jtw0524 - fill out your profile as required so you can be helped.

 

[bondo258]

EGR is no big deal to work around/with, get a used EGR intake. performance EGR intakes are also available. The aluminum intakes flow noticeably better compared to the farm-ready design of the cast-iron ones I've seen.

You'll need an EGR capable exhaust as well. They connect.

A YJ water neck may work for you as far as a CTO/temp switch is concerned. It has a threaded bung facing out toward the driver side front marker light. I have extra tensioners, and flipped installation of some components, so this wasn't an option for me. It may work for you.

If this is the only difficulty you face with your TBI install, consider yourself blessed. I'm not trying to be a wise-acre here. TBI can be a time-consuming thing to get running perfect, Especially if you have done any other upgrades. I'll tell you right now, dedicate a new, larger fuel return line, 5/16 ths min. GM built this into all TBI equipped vehicles. Your vapor return line is not this size.

As far as your inspection goes, Supposedly a one-on-one discussion with a smog "referee" can get you better results than a "from the book" inspector's pass or fail.

 

[Torxhead]

If Clifford claims to have a "Smog legal" manifold, then it must have a California Air Recources Board number with it. It is interesting what you say about the egr and cto valves since both are required. Clifford has been around for a long time and I am sure they know what is required to adapt to the Howell system. I have had the Ca. smog legal Howell on my '86 for some time now and I am sure there has to be a way to adapt to it.

 

[Jake]

I have an EGR preformer manifold that i just bought for $90 for a amc v8. im in nor cal if your interested i am going a different route.


jake