[andreic]

Hello fellow teeners,

Here is the problem I have. My 1975 1.8L has an engine that runs but has some issues (leaks oil, burns oil, low compression -- 85psi across the board), which is not surprising at 93k miles. I originally had a plan to build a fresh engine, but I fear that project may be a bit too much for me right now so for a while it will be shelved.

A couple of days ago I came across the option to buy a motor which looks like a good candidate for a replacement. 1974 1.8L, with only 30k miles on it, ran last year. It comes with the original L-jet fuel injection system, supposedly complete, including also a 1975 FI harness. The seller gave me the option of either buying the motor as it is, with the FI system, or (at a lower price) without it. The trouble is that my car was long ago converted to a single Weber carb. My original plan was to use a dual Dell'orto carb setup on the replacement engine (I already have the Dell'ortos), but the seller kind of talked me into giving the FI system a try.

I don't know what was taken out of my car when the car was converted to the carb setup. I know that I personally removed the high pressure fuel pump about 3-4 years ago, but I may still have it somewhere. I know that the relay board is still in the car, but without relays. I don't know if the throttle position sensor is still in there, or if the wiring going to the fuel pump is still there. (The car is in storage so I can't check.)

My two questions are:

a) How hard is it to get the FI system to run well if all the wiring is still there, assuming that the engine I get has all good running parts? I would still need to take the fuel tank out, put the high-pressure fuel pump in, buy new relays, and get the engine running.

b) Is the trouble to get the FI system running worth it? Is the FI system running considerably better than a dual Dell'orto carb setup? I plan to use this car only for driving around in the summer, never for racing.

What would you guys do?

Thanks,
Andrei.