Howell TBI Install on '83 Jeep CJ-7.

I will update this page with pic's when I get them all developed and scanned.


I recently got so fed up with the old Carter BBD carb on my Jeep that I was contemplating a Webber carb swap. Then I learned of the many fuel injection retro-fit's for the Jeep 258 six cyl. and I started looking into them. I have been spoiled the last few years, driving nothing but vehicles with fuel injection, so I felt this was the route to go.



Commin' apart:
Tearing everything out was a blast! You only use a couple wires out of the old computer harness to splice the electronic ignition as a stand alone system (original Jeep computer had ignition feedback from the Motorcraft box), and almost ALL of the vacuum lines and related switches are removed. The engine compartment became so clean that I could actualy see the 4WD Hardware aluminum valve cover that I spent all that money on!
 

Issues:
I only had a couple small 'issues' when I installed the kit.

1.) The base gasket they sent (between the manifold and the TBI adaptor) looked like a two year old cut it out with a dull pair of scissors. I remedied this by going down to my local parts store and picking up a new Fel-Pro carb base gasket for two bucks.

2.) The TBI adaptor opening was a bit on the small side on the manifold side. I just port matched it to my intake manifold with a small sanding drum on my Dremmel tool.

3.) Once the system was completely installed and I hooked the battery up, the fuel pump turned on. It ran whenever the battery was hooked up (it should only run for a couple seconds with the key on, and then cycle with the motor running). A couple calls to Howell and it was determined that the B1 and B2 wires on the small plug to the computer were swapped, sending a constant 12 volts to the fuel pump.
 

Install:
The installation of this kit was surprisingly easy! The only wires that the kit had to tap into the Jeep were power at both sides of the starter solenoid, 12 volt switched power for the computer, and a tach signal from the negative side of the coil. You also have to run a wire from the purple wire on the ignition box to the ditributor. On some systems, you have to keep part of the original wiring harness in the Jeep for manifold heater, manifold heater switch, and temp gauge. I'm going to wire in the manifold heater differently, and I'm not using the original temp gauge or sending unit so I just unplugged the whole original computer harness from the flat connector near the brake booster.

The only vacuum lines that remain are for PCV, vac. advance to distributor, vac. to EGR and canister purge, Power brakes, and cruise control unit.

Howell recomends a 9" air filter assy (5 1/8" neck, just like a Holley/Carter four barrell carb) but I couldn't find one localy so I went with a 10" Edelbrock "Pro Flow" air cleaner. I would recomend finding/ordering a 9" assy., as the 10" unit almost touches the power brake booster. I have poly engine mounts, so it really doesen't shake around that much, but I could see it being a clearance issue for others.
 

Impressions:
WOW! The Jeep runs like it never has before. It feels like a new motor (@ 160,000 miles!), and the throttle response and smoothness is something I only dreamed about when I had the carb. on it. The install was straight forward, and the instructions were complete. I put this system ion in a weekend, (but I wasn't really working that hard at it.) If you are mechanicly inclined, you should be able to install it in a day. Between the ease of instalation, customer service during AND after my 'issues' (They called me a week later to make sure everything was working alright and if there was anything else they could do), and the driveability and fuel mileage increase (I went from 10 MPG on the freeway to 17 MPG on my first tank of gas, mostly in town and back and forth to work!) I would recomend this system to anyone wanting to dump their old carb and step up to fuel injection. I am a completely satisfied customer!

Thanks to everyone on the off-road.com shortwheelbase BBS who helped me come to this decision!
 
 

 Howell Fuel Injection Systems

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