Another "Is Fuel Injection a Worthwhile Upgrade?" Question

I have installed and driven a couple of efi systems, and honestly, if I hadn't had an idea of how to tune carbs and distributers, I would have been totally lost with the efi.

My first was an accel gen7, around 2000 or 2001. I did it mainly to try something new, as I already had a well tuned holley carb. (I had a much bigger budget back then...)

I had messed with that holley to the point I was getting an average of 17 mpg driving just over an hour to work and back. After a LOT of work with the efi I averaged right at 18 mpg the same trip. Cold starts were better in the winter with the efi, but, I always managed to get to work on time when I was running the holley.

I still have that gen 7 setup sitting in a box, I may run it again someday since I already have it.. I have gained a little knowledge since I last run it and would like to try some things that would probably make it do even better.

The other system I am familiar with is an ez efi port system on my wife's 3g hemi. I would describe it as pretty good, just not enough user adjustability as my old gen7 had. It was much cheaper though, and starts like a new car, which is good for my wife.

My advice when tuning a carb or efi and using a wideband, is to NOT get caught up in trying to make it run at the a/f ratio you think it should run at. Like the old days before we had o2 sensors, you have to give it the fuel and timing it wants/needs.

So is efi an upgrade? Maybe, but if you can't tune a carb and distributer, you may fight an efi system too, even a self learning one.

One last note and not to side track, but a couple of other members and I have been discussing a possible meet up ahead of a certain "race" this year. The trip for me will be about 3 1/2 hours. and honestly I am not worried at all about driving a certain 1967 yellow truck, but for the pre-race meet up I would drive the 03 Ram, and I know it still has the original in tank fuel pump, now THAT worries me a little...