Bit the bullet and went Holley Sniper EFI for the truck

 You know, it wasn't that long ago when I was considering sticking a big twin carbi tunnel ram 302 Windsor into the truck. The cost of fuel did kinda make me think twice about the whole setup, but it looked so damned cool. But I tend to think an engine like that was better suited to being on show all the time, a bit like the old hotrod look with open bonnet/hood.  And when my truck appeared with the 351 it was a big decision as to whether I should just get it rebuilt and flog the 302 which I ended up doing. 

I'll be seeing the truck tomorrow and should have an update on the engine (with pics!) as to where things are at with it. But so far what I have gleaned is that the engine appears to be in salvageable condition. 

With that in mind the consideration of a fuel system arises. The engine has no carbi, dizzy or basically anything, so I decided why not start with a fresh EFI system? 

I'd been researching the pros and cons of Sniper with the 351 and it appears the Terminator is probably the best choice. BUT, it comes in at a whopping $1000 more thank you very much. Even though the risk of RFI would be greatly reduced, decided it still wasn't worth coughing all that money up when it is needed elsewhere. So, I opted for the cheaper composite bodied Sniper for $1900 aud. That was the best price I could secure. I have seen a couple of used ones for sale on eBay, but they were still going for $1500 second hand, and you don't know what you are buying.  

To make the transition as seamless as possible, and to ensure all components talked to each other by giving the system the best chance of life it had,  I opted to go completely Holley and bought the Hyperspark Distributor, ignition and coil all from separate sources and saved about $300. This is their "preferred" option and when I costed other alternatives it was actually not too bad. I mean the ignition box was comparable to the MSD units and this one was designed to suit the Sniper. 

The good news is I was able to buy all this stuff in Australia so it should be here within a week or thereabouts. Ironically, I bought a really nice hood ornament from a seller in the USA about half the price I would have been gouged had I bought it locally and it arrived in just a few weeks which was astounding! It came packed in a Denis Carpenter package but I noticed the product was made in China. I guess everything is these days. It does seem like a really nice item, regardless.