EFI camoflage

[totaljoint]

I just got my truck back from Jim Laguardia at Goatwerks, having the 2.7 and EFI conversion. Thought I'd share how it came out.

On my truck, the EFI had to be placed on the rear of the bulkhead, behind the driver (A Webasto heater was behind the seat):


We didn't want the computer to get kicked, wet or dog-drooled, so needed some kind of a cover for the electronics. I found some old Vietnam era
fiberglass/plastic 20mm ammo boxes. A little work on the table saw (removed one side and bottom) and:


These ammo boxes have the horizontal slots which can be cut out (Dremmel tool) for air circulation, and are waterproof on top to keep
rain, spilled drinks etc... out.
Plus, it kind of looks like it belongs there.

Have driven the truck now only 3 days, but wow, what a difference. Much more power with the 2.7 and significantly quieter with the EFI.
(No more Cascade condensation in the dizzy).
Thanks, Jim!

[pcolette]

Very nice cover for the EFI electronics! It does look like it belongs there.

If Jim weren't so far away I'd probably do the EFI too. Glad to hear it's working well for you.

[Roverchef]

Mr. Goat seems to do great werks!

[berger]

Where does one get an ammo box like that?

[krick3tt]

Here...http://www.colemans.com/containers.htm

[totaljoint]

I've seen them on ebay too.
Don't know too many good uses for them, as the interior is molded for the 20mm shells and really limits the interior space.
My kids store firecrackers in them.

If anyone wants to modify one like I did, be sure and remove the metal pieces before running through the table saw. The metal clasps are easily removed and reinstalled, but the hing pin takes a lot of serious pounding with a mallet or small sledge hammer and a punch. Once cut, I replaced the hinge pin with a 3" deck screw.

The vents were opened by drilling each end of the molded slot with a 3/8 inch drill, then connecting those holes with an oscillating saw. The Dremmel cleaned up the cuts and removed the molded interior to allow room for the components.

BTW, drove up and down Hwy 9 to work today, all in 5th gear. Used to have to go all the way down to 3rd on some of the hills before the conversion. Significantly more power and acceleration.
First 80 city/hwy miles with the EFI and 2.7 engine, and I got 8.6 mpg (was 12 mpg on the same routes with the 2.5). Improve as things get broken in, or am I just enjoying keeping up with traffic?

[Jimm391730]

First 80 city/hwy miles with the EFI and 2.7 engine, and I got 8.6 mpg (was 12 mpg on the same routes with the 2.5). Improve as things get broken in, or am I just enjoying keeping up with traffic?

It's not more thirsty, you are just having too much fun (ask JIm L. how I know!)

[totaljoint]

Jimm,
I know you once told me how happy you were with your conversion. What has been your experience with performance/ mileage/ break-in? I think you are pulling a lot more weight with your work shop box than I am. Today we got a solid 62mph at 4000 rpm.

[Jimm391730]

Performance is great; the perception is that the power might have fallen off a little bit (5-8hp?) over the last 4 years or so, but I really think the difference is that I'm more used to the power and it's not so "exciting" as it once was. I swapped in the TD tranny, so I get half the rpms at the mph (62mph = 3100 rpm, etc.) in overdrive. Still, the almost 4 tons and 9 foot tall brick gets around even at 5500 feet elevation where I live.

I think I've put 10-15,000 miles on the rebuild. I didn't notice much change at all during "break in" but the first year was with carbs, EFI after that. SoCal installed a bum cam that wasn't heat treated properly and it wore within the first year; Jim LaGuardia replaced it for me and I've not had any issues since.

Mileage wise, I was averaging 11-13 mpg (depending on terrain, etc.) on the stock engine. Now I'm getting 10-12, but with the overdrive tranny and doing 60-65 everywhere on the highway (used to do 58-60mph when stock) I have nothing to complain about. Just to say I've done it I hit 75mph (downhill) once! I have had the driveshaft lightened and balanced which helped reduce the vibration but over 60mph you can still feel it. 99% of my mileage is on the highway; I've got close to 1,000 miles planned for the next month alone, spread over four outings. Wish gas wasn't so damned $$$ but driving a Pinz is just so damned fun!

But the EFI means I get great starts no matter what the temperature and full torque to start going immediately; the stock engine and carbs needed ~2 minutes of warm up just to make enough torque to get out of my driveway. I did miss a shift once and hit the hard rev limiter at 5500 rpm with no ill effects (glad it was there and programed!). Jim builds a good engine.

And we both have Andre's rack work. Hope you are as happy with it as I am with mine.

[MadMax]

Im jealous! Great idea to compliment some great work. Finishing touches like that make such a difference, and make it yours.

Hope to see you around WA sometime! I'm hoping to pull a few folks together to take over the parking lot of the Tides Tavern in Gig Harbor one of these Saturday afternoons.

[spandit]

Wow, that's a lot of electronics! What's the top box (the bottom one is the ECU, I presume)?
Mine is going behind the bulkhead too, but on the passenger side as there were already grommeted wiring holes there and it was closer to where the distributor used to be

[totaljoint]

I believe it's a dedicated 24 - 12volt inverter for the EFI.

[spandit]

Ah, that makes sense. I was going to buy a new dropper specifically for the ignition as running the stereo and internal lights might overload the unit if it's running the EFI at the same time

[TechMOGogy]

I just got my truck back from Jim Laguardia at Goatwerks, having the 2.7 and EFI conversion. Thought I'd share how it came out.

On my truck, the EFI had to be placed on the rear of the bulkhead, behind the driver (A Webasto heater was behind the seat):


We didn't want the computer to get kicked, wet or dog-drooled, so needed some kind of a cover for the electronics. I found some old Vietnam era
fiberglass/plastic 20mm ammo boxes. A little work on the table saw (removed one side and bottom) and:


These ammo boxes have the horizontal slots which can be cut out (Dremmel tool) for air circulation, and are waterproof on top to keep
rain, spilled drinks etc... out.
Plus, it kind of looks like it belongs there.

Have driven the truck now only 3 days, but wow, what a difference. Much more power with the 2.7 and significantly quieter with the EFI.
(No more Cascade condensation in the dizzy).
Thanks, Jim!

That is excellent!
Does the EFI cut down on the PinzStink?

[totaljoint]

Does the EFI cut down on the PinzStink?

I have no gasoline smell with the EFI.