I'm going to take the Howell TBI dive!!!! Yay!

I'm going to take the Howell TBI dive!!!! Yay!
R

rumblephish

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Vehicle(s)
1978 Jeep CJ-5 "Levi's" edition, original AMC 304 V8, T-150 transmission, Dana 20 transfer case, AMC 20 rear end. All stock except for a hotter ignition.
Well the wife is soo excited about driving the CJ that she gave me the green light to get the Howell TBI fuel injection kit for it! Being here in California the Howell CA. approved kit is a God send.


I spoke to the guys at Howell this morning and read over the C.A.R.B. Executive order that was given to Howell and I'm stoked! I'm gonna legally lose the air pump, injection tubes and all but two vacuum lines! :) Yay! And I get headers!! woohoo!

They said I can get either the 2 or 4 bbl TB unit and that when I'm ready to drop my 360 in I just have to order bigger injectors for the TB unit and get the 360 chip from Howell. :)

I asked about after market intakes and the guy at Howell said the Edlebrock Performer is a great match for the TB set up. He was fairly certain that if I used the EGR model than it would be emissions compliant but suggested I call my local smog ref.

So I called the CA. Air Resource Referee line and spoke to a very nice guy (huh, go figure!? . He took all the info I gave him and said the Ref would contact me in a couple of days to let me know if the manifold I want would be legal. He said that he's pretty sure it'll all be good but to wait to hear from the Ref before I purchase anything. So I'm hoping against hope that the Edlebrock 3731 EGR Performer intake will be O.K.'d for use with the Howell system. If not I'll try to hunt down a stock 4bbl intake. :D

Now it's hurry up and wait for the ref time....... :cool:
 
Good Luck I've had it for about 13 years now.It has its drawbacks as any system but the boys at Howell are pretty good at working them out.Make sure they send you the decal for emissions that goes under the hood. Fun part is ripping the wires and hoses off.I had about 6 wires that came out the firewall the rest all tied into them.I bundled them back for future use.
Good Luck Mike
 
dslywalker said:
Good Luck I've had it for about 13 years now.It has its drawbacks as any system but the boys at Howell are pretty good at working them out.Make sure they send you the decal for emissions that goes under the hood. Fun part is ripping the wires and hoses off.I had about 6 wires that came out the firewall the rest all tied into them.I bundled them back for future use.
Good Luck Mike
Click to expand...


Thanks Mike. I'm really excited about getting it set up. I was about to throw the 2150 through a window!! :eek::D


So, can I ask you what issues you've had come up over the time you've had it in? I'll be installing it on a stock AMC 304 . Hopefully I'll be able to swap out the intake. I will be putting headers on it for sure. Other than a Jacobs ignition my motor is bone stock.
 
I had more setup issues than anything.It was fairly new on the market then at least here in Phoenix,Az. Mechanics weren't to familiar with the system as add-ons then. Mine was getting the right chip burned for the best performance. Howell gave me 3 chips 1 for street/offroad/emissions. Mechanics here still don't like them as they want to put their product on. Howell is a good DYI project and parts are from GM trucks 88-91 I think.If you buy you a Chiltons manual covering the years of GM trucks 88-95 I could be wrong but ask Howell you'll know what makes it tick.Lot of people do junkyard conversions but takes a little more effort.Chevy 4.3 Vortec makes a good donor vehicle as a lot of other gm vehicles. Emissions being your main reason it'll work great.
I also heard their instructions could have a few more pictures but people said Howell always walked them thru it if they got stuck.Its more fuel related system and Howell said mine would run better if I updated to a DUI HEI distributor.The guy I talked to didn't like the TFI update with Howell guess he had his reasons. Troy is the main tech guy their last I knew it's a family business I believe.I think you'll be happy with their service and main thing is California emissions is happy with their product.
I've treated this system like :dung: and it still runs.I think more Arizona dirt has went in that thhrottle body than I care to think about.Make sure to ask them about a Air Cleaner for your engine sometimes its hard to find one that clears everything. If I can find it theirs a ebay store that sells some. Let me know how it goes mines on a AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l so yours might be different but not by much.
Mike
 
cool I have a few more install links if you need them. when you do your headers plan on a 02 sensor going in them
Mike
 
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I've had the Howell on my 350 for about 3 years now. I have the 2 bbl. it has pleanty of power, I'm not sure there is any reason to go 4 bbl.
I installed mine myself, it was very easy to do.
It has to be the best up grade I've done, I'm very happy with it.
Their customer service is top notch also.
 
I installed their kit on my friends YJ not to long ago and it does run great... it was weird gutting all those wires out of the harness but once I was done the engine bay was much cleaner :chug: Those guys do know their stuff :chug:
 
dslywalker said:
Rumblephish if you have time do a thread on your install with pictures:chug: Mike
Click to expand...

You read my mind! :D

I really hope that smog ref gets back to me tomorrow.
 
OK! The smog ref called me back this morning :)

For anyone wanting to know if the Edelbrock Performer Intake w/EGR port, part #3771 is legal to use in California.... YES! YES IT IS!!! I wont be getting one fro the AMC 304 , but will be for the 360 build :)

I just ordered the Howell kit directly from Howell Industries. it should be here next Monday. I will be doing a step by step install thread with pictures when it comes in so stay tuned! :)
 
Just ordered my Howell kit yesterday for my AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l . Have been wanting to do it for some time but just couldn't get myself to spend the money. Finally go sick and tired of fighting the choke and carb itself; I can't wait to get this installed!!
 
Just got done installing the system, all in all it was pretty straight forward. What really surprised me is she fired right up just like it came from the factory with it installed. Couple little clean up items and it will be ready for the trails again.
 
Mr Twisty said:
Just got done installing the system, all in all it was pretty straight forward. What really surprised me is she fired right up just like it came from the factory with it installed. Couple little clean up items and it will be ready for the trails again.
Click to expand...

No photos?:mad:
 
Just got back from our 1st trip with the CJ7 after the Howell EFI kit and HEI install. Man it ran great with no problems at all. We went to the desert just outside of Parker, AZ and it did not miss a beat uphill or downhill. Very pleased, highly recommended to get rid of all that FORD cr*p !
 
Rumble, I'm about to do the swap, u mentioned u can remove the air pump? Is that true?
 
Yes, the Air Pump goes away!!! Just make sure that you buy the California version so that it is CARB Approved and you get the Sticker for the SMOG Police. I also went with the CRT HEI Distributor, this got rid of allot of wires and plugs and modules.

The guys at Howell are great and help when needed.
 
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