Swapping from EFI to carb - looking for info and parts suggestions

Here's my 2 cents...mostly because I'm basically cheap.

in 2015, I wired up a Duraspark I (red strain relief) per George Pence's diagram when my MSD failed. Installed along with a remanufactured Motorcraft/Duraspark distributor with MSD Blaster SS coil. Spent some time to get the advance curve where it needed to be. No ignition issues since. I can't address your TFI distributor and coil question.

Bought an off-the-shelf fuel pump in 2001 that's still pumping. Brand unknown.

Replaced an old Edelbrock (AFB) carburetor with a Summit Carb 600 cfm carb in 2019. Had to adapt air cleaner assembly for everything to fit under the screen. Summit carb worked great right out of the box.

I believe my 351C is pushing 375-400 HP. Nothing wild, just healthy. Has a Crane HMV-278-2A cam, and the Edelbrock heads boosted the compression ratio up to around 10.5:1.

Weather permitting, I put 1,500-2,500 miles a year during our relatively short driving season going to various cruise-ins with my car buddies with some sporting driving from point A to point B at times.

I don’t know about the distributor, but you can use the TFI coil with the Duraspark.  Just don’t don’t run a ballast resistor with it, or prepare to remove the ballast resistor if you get a high rpm misfire.

George P on this site has a lot of Duraspark information if you search.  George has a wiring diagram most people follow.

I use the McRobb fuel pump for my engine.  My dyno results appear to be similar to yours.  We found that the inexpensive $50 fuel pumps would have a good pressure at idle but as soon as you got above the 2000 RPM, fuel pressure would fall off like a stone.  It’s more expensive, but it works. There’s a very minor interference with your oil filter with the larger pump body.

Rocky

Here's what I believe is one of George P's many Duraspark I descriptions I captured along with the wiring diagram I followed.

I run a QuickFuel HR-series 600 CFM carb on my basically stock motor.  I have an Edelbrock performer manifold.  Once set up and dialed in, the carb performs perfectly.  I did have to change the pump cams to a higher output shot but beyond that and tuning it, perfect.  As for ignition, I run a Pertronix ignitor and coil in my original Ford distributor.  As for fuel pump, why not buy a rebuilt Ford unit.  that is what is on my motor.  No problems.  Keep it simple.  You can get most of this at Summit Racing and Rock Auto.  

While I was at it, I replaced the fuel filter with a new WIX unit and added a K&N 3" air filter.  I also put a 1" spacer between the manifold and carb.  Moved the feed lines up off the manifold.  I had already cut my cover screen so I didn't care.

p.s. if you are looking for a quality dual inlet fuel line, look at these guys.  I went through several different feed lines and they ALL leaked.   This unit is pre-built and does NOT leak if you torque it correctly.   Many of the other lines are junk.  https://www.scramspeed.com/pro...ley-carburetors.html

There's currently an OEM carb and intake as well as a Duraspark setup on ebay.

Clearly installing an old school cast iron manifold isn't the greatest idea, but would there be any drawback to buying and using these parts other than the cast iron manifold?  Looking at the photos, I didn't realize Panteras came with spread bore carbs.  Amazing what you learn once you become an owner.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/234799103500

https://www.ebay.com/itm/234899943509

I was under the impression that the reason everyone has other induction systems is because the Motorcraft 4300D carbs were problematic.  

They certainly were spreadbore carbs originally.

The Duraspark setup looks complete…. For convenience, that seems like a good buy.

Rocky

NOTE:  The module is not a Ford one, likely an aftermarket unit (I run them without issue).  Can’t tell if the distributor is Ford.

The distributor gear looks like bronze, I understand that these can have a short life, but won’t damage your camshaft.

@panterapatt posted:

As for fuel pump, why not buy a rebuilt Ford unit.  that is what is on my motor.  No problems.  Keep it simple.  You can get most of this at Summit Racing and Rock Auto.

Have a link for the fuel pump?  Rock Auto has no fuel pumps for a Pantera at all and Summit doesn't list anything for a Pantera but does carry the Carter M6882

Dear Justin,

          FYI:  McRobb Performance link for a truly hipo 351C mechanical fuel pump

  https://www.robbmcperformance....roducts/ford550.html

        One of the two principals of McRobb is a Ford guy running a 351C.  I use one on both Panteras.  I can vouch for their quality and performance.

              Warmest regards, Chuck Engles

Rock Auto - look for a 1971 Mustang with the 351C:  https://www.rockauto.com/en/mo...pt=6256&jsn=1675

Very few places cite a Pantera but they all cite the mustang:

https://www.cjponyparts.com/fu...2mdXpWRoCPvwQAvD_BwE

Summit has 71 fuel pumps for the 351C

As for buying a used Ford carb, I would probably look elsewhere first.

@panterapatt posted:

Rock Auto - look for a 1971 Mustang with the 351C:  https://www.rockauto.com/en/mo...pt=6256&jsn=1675

Very few places cite a Pantera but they all cite the mustang:

https://www.cjponyparts.com/fu...2mdXpWRoCPvwQAvD_BwE

Summit has 71 fuel pumps for the 351C

As for buying a used Ford carb, I would probably look elsewhere first.

Thanks for the links.  Very helpful.  I was also wondering if there was a link for the rebuilt Ford pump that @panterapatt mentioned.

I am Panterapatt and provided you the links.  I suggested a rebuilt but I guess they are all new.   For $13 at rock auto, it's hard to go wrong.

@panterapatt posted:

I am Panterapatt and provided you the links.  I suggested a rebuilt but I guess they are all new.   For $13 at rock auto, it's hard to go wrong.

Ah, sorry, I didn't realize you were the one who posted the links.  The links are for Carter pumps.  I thought you were saying there were actual OEM FoMoCo rebuilt pumps available somewhere.

Was Carter the OEM pump manufacturer?  I know Carter 1bbl carbs were OEM on some six cylinder first generation Broncos.  Maybe the Pantera fuel pump was as well?

Don’t know.  

“For $13 at rock auto, it's hard to go wrong.”

…. But changing out a fuel pump because you lose fuel pressure at higher RPMs, and have an intermittent stumble that’s hard to troubleshoot might be something to think about, and possibly prevent….

I saw it with two of those inexpensive pumps on my dyno runs…

Rocky

I guess it's all relative.  I have a stock motor with modified induction and exhaust and would never realize such a problem driving on the streets.