New here so saying hello

[D/ALT]

I hope I'm on the right forum.
I know very little about EFI but I have a Hilborn manifold and want to convert it to electronic.
We ran one on our race car in the 60s but I want to use this one on my street driven hot rod.
Any direction given will be appreciated.

[dave w]

:welcome:

Many options to convert the Hilborn to Electronic Fuel Injection.

Maybe this article will help with some ideas: https://www.hotrod.com/articles/0709sr-hilborn-injection/

dave w

[D/ALT]

I saw that article but it’s from’97. I’m hoping to find a source that is more diy.

[dave w]

Please share more technical information about the Hilborn system you have. Please share pics. Starting a new thread "Hilbron with EFI" might be helpful.

dave w

[D/ALT]

16453Here is what I have. I intend to put it on a 327" SBC that is in my '33 Ford sedan.16450

[dave w]

16453Here is what I have. I intend to put it on a 327" SBC that is in my '33 Ford sedan.16450

The first challenge I see is getting 8 injectors (maybe 1990 Corvette injectors) mounted to the intake pictured, then a Throttle Position Sensor figured out. Then the easy stuff to figure out, computer and wire harness (maybe 1990 Corvette for an under hood computer?)

So many options, some budget friendly?

dave w

[1project2many]

I'd started a reply yesterday but I'm not sure what happened to it.

Pre-obdII GM ECM will use coolant temp, throttle position, rpm, and either a manifold pressure signal or an airflow reading to determine the correct spark timing and fuel delivery for the engine. In most retrofits all one needs to do is figure out how to connect the appropriate sensors and fuel injectors and the easy part is finished. But the Hilborn system adds a bit of a twist. The Hilborn intake manifold isn't a manifold. It's really a cast aluminum base holding eight individual runners. This causes one to think more about solutions. While CTS, TPS, and RPM are relatively easy to retrofit, it's the MAP or MAF signal that's tougher. In order to get a measurements for the whole engine, one would need to connect all eight stacks to a central point for a MAP sensor. These connections must be made below the throttle plate. Or if a person is using a MAF sensor the stacks must breathe through a common plenum. This usually ruins the aesthetic appeal of the stacks.

I remember this conversion being discussed and possibly started many years ago on diy-efi or gmecm. I don't know how it turned out. I suppose your success would depend on how creative you are and how many parts you're willing to buy vs make. Do the injector angles need to be altered for better fit and performance? Are you willing to weld and machine your current manifold? Can you add a throttle position sensor to the current pedal in the vehicle? Can you build a vacuum manifold for a MAP sensor connection? What access do you have to machine tools?

There are some Hilborn style manifolds out there with EFI. Some systems work without using the air flow or pressure signal used by a GM ecm. They can be made to work fairly well although there are a number of situations where they may not work as well as the GM system. If you want a GM computer it could also be made to run without the air signal although there would be issues under some conditions. If the engine runs drag races then you won't notice problems as much as if you are on the street.


Some pictures and / or reading

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/hilborn-efi-conversion.1025067/
https://web.archive.org/web/20120831193845/http://www.network54.com/Forum/74182/message/1209948586/Hilborn+EFI+Conversion+for+SOHC
https://web.archive.org/web/20120831193852/http://www.network54.com/Forum/74182/message/1209948586/Hilborn+EFI+Conversion+for+SOHC (Sorry, no pictures)
https://foxinjections.com/pages/customer-photos <-- Their old page said they are happy to give advice for "Stack injection conversions." They have very cool injector "caps" that replace the fuel rail we're all used to! Also, be sure to scroll down to Dan Pate's Hilborn photos to see what appears to be a "Common fuel manifold" supplying the injectors.

Also...
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/hilborn-to-efi-care-to-drop-any-names.375256/#post-4160253
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/hilborn-to-efi-care-to-drop-any-names.375256/#post-4161739
https://www.v8buick.com/index.php?threads/its-alive-with-home-made-hilborn-efi-conversion.231625/
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/c1-and-c2-corvettes/4084247-efi-hilborn-style-intake-on-a-sbc.html
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/546202261030544511/
https://www.mgexp.com/forum/mg-engine-swaps-forum.40/hilborn-fuel-injection-converting-to-efi.4108154.4111778/
https://bangshift.com/forum/forum/bangshift/tech-section/all-about-efi/6720-converting-hilborn-to-efi-what-does-it-take