My tow rig is a 1979 Ford Bronco. It has a 351m in it. I rebuilt the motor back in January and I have about 8k miles on it. This is my daily driver and tow rig for my built Jeep. I built the motor with a mild cam (508/266), going to be running headers with true dual exhaust within the next month. It was punched out .020 over, still using stock heads, intake and 2bbl carb.

I am planning a trip out west this fall, towing the jeep. I am also planning to replace the carb/intake this summer. My question is, here in the midwest where you can watch your dog run away all day, my truck tows decent enough to get me to and from the trail at 10mpg. What I'm worried about is the mountians out west. I know carbs behave very different at different altitudes and such as well.

With planning on replacing the intake and carb, I'm already going to be spending a little cash indoing this. I'm wondering if anyone has any thoughts on going with a carb vs going with holley projection. With a moderate carb and intake I'm looking at about 600 bucks. With holley and an intake, I'm looking at at least a grand. While I'm not afraid to put that kind of money in this truck, do I really need the FI? Is there an aftermarket carb that will work well for me in towing the mountains?

My trailer with my Jeep on it weighs in about 7k. I know thats a lot to be toting through the mountains and I wont be able to hold 75mph, I just want to make it up and down the hills at a reasonable pace.

Thanks

mac 'road trip' gyvr

Even if you do get alittle bit better MPG how much do you think you can get? A TB injection still isn't that much more efficent then a carb. Just a 4bbl will give you a little better on the MPG. However, you also have the ability to get worse MPG. So say you drop $1000 to get maybe 2 more MPG. How many miles do you have to drive to make it worth it? Granted FI is nice, but is it worth all the time and money to have it? I'm sure a few guys will be able to tell you how much they spent and what they got out of it.

I used the projection once, took it off, put 4bbl back on. Why? it worked better for me. When I get around to it, I will be installing a factory setup on my 351w. Granted you won't be able to do that since Ford never had a EFI 351/400 mod.

I think I confused you when I said that I got the 10mpg towing. I dont really care about the mpg. As long as it stays around 10mpg, I'm pretty happy with that, especially for a heavy brick with wheels cruising down the hiway towing a trailer with a jeep thats no more aerodynamic than the bronco.

My question was, is there a carb that will perform well enough to tow my big bulk into the mountains, or is FI the best way to go and thoughts on that.

mac 'have to get yer stuff over the mountains to play in moab' gyvr

Now I understand. Any 4bbl will do the trick. You will use less gas when you are not hitting the secondaries. Also since you will be changing the intake, you will save some weight and it will flow better. then when you hit the hills you will running the 4 bbl, so you will get the power you want.

My buddy tows his Jeep with an 86 Ford F250. It has a built 351, its a winsor, I think, he has a moderate cam, and aftermarket intake and a 650 Holley carb. His truck ran fine til he got to the mountains in March. His truck wouldnt tow the jeep and trailer up the mountains for anything, it just overheated. He had to take the Jeep off the trailer, drive it and have his girlfriend drive the truck and trailer up the mountain.

I want to avoid this.

mac 'thats no fun either' gyvr

My buddy pulled his carb(in a '48 CJ2A w/302) and replaced it with a closed loop 2 Barrel Holley TB. He loves it! It never runs rich, which is what I think you are worried about, and it never stumbles on hills. It cost around $900 for the closed loop system and the rich/lean guage. The guage makes dialing in a 5 minute job vs. pull-the-plug-and-adjust tecnique.

I have a 73 EB with a 351W and it has all chevy tbi on it even a full loop HEI from DUI. It runs great and if their is a problem just check the chevy codes on the computer and it will tell you what is wrong. I like the stock chevy set up over the holly just because all the parts are off the shelf at any auot parts store. It works just like a 91 chevy tbi (my comp year is 91) and on the rubicon it is flawless!

Sounds like the way to go is with an FI of some type. Unless someone knows of a carb that will work well in the mountains.

mac 'savin my pennies for the holly setup' gyvr