ESC Carb & Distributor

[HAULIN IT]

Is there a realistic way to use either of these & function properly without the computer? Years ago I had heard of someone putting 12v w/ign. switch to one terminal on the plug on the carb...looking at it's function in a carb book, I don't see this as possible/proper, but? Understand I would want it to operate correctly, not just run. Thanks, Lorne

[Stewart G Griffin]

Are you talking about electronic spark control?   Federal or Cal?

[HAULIN IT]

Yes   Federal, I guess. My interest is...These carbs & distributors seem to be all over the place when looking for stuff. I know guys used to just get the older ones when eliminating the ESC, I did a couple myself years ago, but now wonder if there is any hope for them. Lorne

[VileZambonie]

Basically they are junk. There are different versions of the feedback carb but without the computer there is no way to duty cycle the mc solenoid. It's not worth the aggrivation imo. Why do you want this set up? You could make some tweaks as you said to make it just run but work correctly? Forget it.

[HAULIN IT]

Vile, That's what I thought, but never studied (or cared) enough if they could be made to work. Two things really led to my questions. 1) In my going to the E transmission, I need a TPS & they have a "built-in" one. 2) My friend is putting a 455 into his '87 Cutlass, it has the same basic system. The car works fine, so we were questioning if either one could be used. I know the secondary blades don't open all the way, but that is changeable. Do you know if the base, ect. of the distributor is the same? I have a couple of Chevy HEI's I could steal guts out of. If not, I'm sure we'll find one. The other day I looked a little & all I found was the ESC stuff, it seems the older stuff is drying up. Most likely he'll just get a new/reman one. Thanks! Lorne

[eventhorizon66]

The only retrofit TPS for a carb that I know of are these two by HGM.

http://www.hgmelectronics.com/products/acculink_tps

or

http://www.hgmelectronics.com/products/cable_tps

[VileZambonie]

You can easily fab up a TPS system by welding a blade onto the linkage and using the oe TPS or retrofit a feedback carb to the metering/boost traditional Q-jet internals. As far as HEI is concerned how bout one of these if you don't want to spend a lot of $

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SBC-BBC-Chevy-Distributor-HEI-350-400-427-454-50K_W0QQitemZ330320232203QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item330320232203&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=65%3A15%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

[HAULIN IT]

My plan on the TPS is to make a bracket off of the 3 screws for choke housing & make a blade set-up off of the throttle shaft. Even's first pic looks kinda odd to me, but not as odd as the one someone makes with a spring & what looks like an old toilet chain (the sensor mounts back behind the carb). Give me a little time, I'll post my version. I don't see any reason to do it with the linkage...time will tell.
 Billet out-put shaft is on back order, so is the tranny part of the harness for the controller    
 Thanks Vile...We need to be talking Olds though  I'm sure he'll come up with one soon. Lorne

[Captkaos]

You can easily weld a TPS mount onto anything.  That is what I did for my hilborn setup.  It is hard to see it in this pic, but it is on the right of this pic:

[HAULIN IT]

Chris, Can I ask what are you planning to put that on? That is a killer lookin' set-up! Lorne

[Captkaos]

It is going on my 454 that I have had forever.  This is it mounted in the current frame the 6.0L is living in:

[VileZambonie]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/OLDSMOBILE-HEI-DISTRIBUTOR-OLDS-442-OLDS-6503-R_W0QQitemZ270365933185QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item270365933185&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=65%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

[HAULIN IT]

Chris, All you need now is an early Chevy II with a straight front axle & an altered wheelbase to put that in. Cool!
 Vile, Have you bought from them? I generally think if the price seems too good to be true, something is up. They have good feedback though, you would think if half of their stuff was junk, it would have caught up with them by now. That would sure eliminate fooling around rebuilding one. You couldn't get the guts for that cost...which leads me back to my initial thought. Thanks, We may need to check that out. Lorne

[Captkaos]

Naw, that is going in my Stepside pickup.   Always loved the look of stacks, just gotta get it finished.

[VileZambonie]

Lorne,

I just put one of those in a guys 68 Firebird with a 400 that had points. It worked like a charm. The nice thing is if the pick up coil and module are easily replaced if the fail. Really what else can go wrong with it? There's not much to an HEI. I'd rather use a new made in china over a beat up old core.

Chris your motor looks sweet but needs some contrast. Black oil pan and accessories would look pimp