Ram Tubes manifold from an EFI Black 6 onto a 173 Head for total gas driven 186

[Rothu]

Righto! Have been researching, measuring and thinking.
I'm going to put a set of ram tubes from a efi black engine onto my 186/173 engine.
The reason being that I only run gas and any carby is just going to have petrol stuff in the way of the throttle, whereas the ram tube manifold (being for fuel injection) has no carby, just a throttle, and a bloody big one! So I'll have the gas ring just in front of the throttle.

Of course some modifications will have to be done to make the ram tubes fit, including shortening them and fashioning them to fit onto the head. But man! It'll certainly be something different! I'll take photos of the progress and post them here.

[grandad]

sound good will be watching this one

[BlackBedford]

G'day
I have SWB van and a LWB truck with EFI manifold running straight gas and it is definitely worth the loss of floor space due to the bigger engine cover.
I recommend a gas throttle-body such as the GasResearch unit. They are expensive new but can be picked up on ebay fairly cheap.
I also run a Yella Terra gas head, Yella Terra Rolla rockers, Voodo Gas cam, and ICE gas dissy. They both go go real hard with a wide torque band. The van still runs the original 3 speed manual box.
I run fairly high compression and have had trouble with low grade gas so I have a Knock Gauge  made out of bits scavenged from a VN Commodore

[Rothu]

Grouse Blackbedford! Exactly what it will look like!
A couple of questions:
Did you have to make any extra manifold bolt holes to fit the ram tube?
What did you use to fill the injector holes?
Can you show a picture of the refashioned engine cover? and any measurements you made to modify the cover?
Also, what does the Knock gauge look like and where in the line did you put it?
Thanks.

[BlackBedford]

G'day

Questions... answers...
The EFI manifold is for the 12 port head but as far as I know it will bolt straight onto a 9 port head.

The injector holes are filled with an aluminum plug turned for the job and glued in. Doesn't have to be too exact.

The engine cover was boxed up on the passenger side. If you look at the circle on the floorpan you will get an idea how far you will have to come out. The drivers side stays the same.

The knock gauge uses the knock sensor out of the VN. It is screwed into the block just behind the oil pump and looks like a pressure sender only with a bigger lead. Make sure you get the connector and as much lead as possible.
You also need the memcal chip out of the computer as it has the electronics to decode the sensor.
There is a simple circuit to drive the led and it fits into an old 50mm gauge as per the photo. The led is in the centre and it flashes when the motor starts to ping even before i can hear it. It took about 3 hours to make and fit and I have not had to pull the head off for burnt valves since.

I have posted details about the knock sensor before and I am about 4000k's from home at the moment, but when home I can dig out the details for you.

Regards


Me in trouble again:

[John Abbott]

Geez...Chris,your parking inspectors over there are a bit heavy handed.!!!!

[Rothu]

Was very lucky and scored a complete gas kit from a Jeep Cherokee at the wreckers with an Impco 200 mixer, convertor, micro processor, valve on it for $50.

Then went to an exhaust place where they made up a pipe to fit the commo throttle body to the mixer, $5.

Then took the ram tubes to a head place where he plugged the injector holes and fabricated new manifold bolt holes for $40! All looking good!

[ben]

sounds like your well on the way camden well done:)

[Warren]

So thats where you were off to Rothu - busy day buddy.

Warren

[Rothu]

The journey so far: The difference between what I have and what I WILL have!