carb or EFI

[badasshybrid]

I have a 99 Outback with a carbed Indmar 5.7. Ended up having some trouble out of at the end of the season. I thought it was bad gas, no. I thought it was vapor lock, no. I tuned it up and it ran a little better but not much. I was going to take it to the dealer and see if they could figure it out but I want to try one more thing first. The carb might need to be rebuilt so I was going to get a brand new one and give it a try, till I seen the prices.

The questions I have:

#1 - If I stay with a carb which would be best to run?
#2 - I seen a Holly marine EFI kit, are they worth the money?
#3 - Are there any other EFI kits on the market?
#4 - What is the differance in a EFI kit for a car and a EFI kit for a boat? Both seem to have the same parts, and both fit a SBC 350

Marine kit
http://www.jegs.com/i/Holley/510/950-53/10002/-1

Auto kit
http://www.jegs.com/i/Edelbrock/350/35030/10002/-1
http://www.jegs.com/i/FAST/244/30227-KIT/10002/-1
http://www.jegs.com/i/DFI/310/77142EB/10002/-1

[badasshybrid]

Still havent found anyone who can tell me the difference between the marine and auto EFI kits. Talked to a well know engine builder today and he said they use auto EFI kits on marine engines all the time. They told me to bring just the engine and they would put the EFI on it and tune it on the dyno.


Do any of you guys know if there is any reason why auto fuel injection WILL NOT work on marine engines?

[maxpower220]

http://www.jegs.com/i/Edelbrock/350/1410/10002/-1

Buy this and an adapter plate if necessary and be done.

Why spend $2000+ on your boat to put in EFI? What are you trying to gain? I know a lot of people who love Holley carbs, I don't. I put that Edelbrock carb (and intake) on my first boat when I had carb problems with the stock Holley, problem solved for the next 2-3 years that I owned it.

Is EFI nicer? Yes. Is it $2000 dollars more nicer? NO!

[Ian Brantford]

[...]I thought it was bad gas, no. I thought it was vapor lock, no. I tuned it up and it ran a little better but not much.[...]

Have you checked the fuel filter(s)?

[kaneboats]

Have to agree with maxpower on this one. Way better off having somebody who knows what they are doing put a new (or rebuilt) carb on there and get it right. My 2000 O/B was carbed and performance was incredible (Holley, by the way). Also agree with Ian above. As with any kind of troubleshooting, don't throw money at a problem that might be simple. Start at the beginning. Check the fuel itself, the supply, lines, filter, etc. and go through the system. Just because the carb is on top and easy to see doesn't mean it's the problem. Best of luck to you!

[badasshybrid]

Thanks for the help guys, I will give it another look and see if I can find the problem. I drained the fuel and changed the filter that looks like a oil filter, I did not see a seperate fuel filter in there but then again I could have looked right over it. I really dont want to spend 2000 to get it running right, just want to use the dang thing with no problems.

[rdlangston13]

can you not take it to a shop and have them diagnose and fix the issue?

[maxpower220]

I really dont want to spend 2000 to get it running right, just want to use the dang thing with no problems.

Is was "running right" for a long time with the carb. No reason to think that once you find the problem, it won't run right with a carb in the future. Before I replaced the Holley carb it had, I rebuilt it. It was better but not right. I took it to a dealer, he worked on it and got it better but no right. Once I replaced it, it ran perfect.

If you problem is a filter, pump, etc, replacing or adding FI won't help. If the problem is the carb, rebuild or replace. In '95 it was hard to find a "good" mechanic to rebuild carbs. I imagine that it is much harder now.

Different topic: I have a friend with a 1988 Honda motorcycle that has been sitting for a while. He contact every local motorcycle dealer here to have the carbs rebuilt and synced. Not even the small independent shops would work on it. It's too old and "we don't work on carbs much anymore" were the responses he got.

[Rusten]

Just wanted to send a +1 on the Edelbrock carb replacement for the Holley.

I did the same thing, after having the Holley rebuilt by two different shops that are very well known (I tested a second when after sending it to the fist rebuild-shop, I continued to have problems).

Put the marinized Edelbrock in, and it was night-and-day better. You wouldn't think so, because the Edelbrock is much less expensive, less complex, and doesn't get all of the fanatical followers. None the less, worked better for me :-).