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Holley Snipper
Has anybody switched from carb to the Holley Snipper efi, if you have what kind of results have you seen? |
This gets kicked around every few months and I’ve yet to hear of any solid results either way regarding aftermarket TBI systems. MPI systems seem to be a winner. On the BBC forums on cars the Sniper gets rave reviews, but in a Marine application where the engine spends most of its life near redline the throttle body seems to be a restriction. Autos spend .001% of their life near redline so they’d never notice. That’s my internet education on the matter. |
I have a buddy who converted to snipers on 540s on a big 40-foot cruiser. Loves em!!! no worries with hudreds of hours.
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Originally Posted by Swamplizard
(Post 4649530)
I have a buddy who converted to snipers on 540s on a big 40-foot cruiser. Loves em!!! no worries with hudreds of hours.
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He actually had them installed locally and they got tuned at the dock (he had wifi) by a guy in Canada - then I believe he removed O2 sensors after the tune.
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I’ve had my eye on sniper for a while. They make 2 versions, a 4150 style good to approx 600 Hp and a newer 4500 version good from 800 to 1200 Hp. My problem is I’m in between the 2. It sounds like a esources lower HP version of the 4500 is in the works of which I’m very interested. The sniper concept in general looks very good and I believe Holley by far has the resources to get it right and stand behind it. Very interested in input from others. I think the fuel system make over is the biggest challenge as you need to run a return line. As an alternative I’m looking at diving into my carb to see how close I can get it and considering the K&N electronic fuel injection (assist) that works in conjunction with a carburetor. It’s half the price and doesn’t require a new fuel system. If I can get the carburetor close and just need a little help trimming the fuel curve it might be just the trick. |
Originally Posted by ezrizer
(Post 4649699)
I’ve had my eye on sniper for a while. They make 2 versions, a 4150 style good to approx 600 Hp and a newer 4500 version good from 800 to 1200 Hp. My problem is I’m in between the 2. It sounds like a esources lower HP version of the 4500 is in the works of which I’m very interested. The sniper concept in general looks very good and I believe Holley by far has the resources to get it right and stand behind it. Very interested in input from others. I think the fuel system make over is the biggest challenge as you need to run a return line. As an alternative I’m looking at diving into my carb to see how close I can get it and considering the K&N electronic fuel injection (assist) that works in conjunction with a carburetor. It’s half the price and doesn’t require a new fuel system. If I can get the carburetor close and just need a little help trimming the fuel curve it might be just the trick. |
I'm being dragged kicking and screaming into the EFI age, but to be honest, I've had super luck with Holley's on a boat, as long as it's naturally aspirated or roots blower. If you have a carb system, there's quite a bit of money involved in changing the fuel system on top of the injection cost. As boats aren't generally aren't about super accurate throttle response, and gas mileage, really? Mine, you pump once, hit the key and it explodes! Both engines. Ran perfect for years, year in and year out. If I were rebuilding back to what it was, I'd go carbs.
However, I'm going turbos, and the setups I bought require injection, so I'm stuck. I think it depends on what you feel comfortable with. I grew up with Holleys, so they are in my 'comfort zone'. EFI, I'm learning! LOL! |
I spoke with K&N today and their ECi doesn't seem practical for my application. As others have pointed out at $800 you're well on your way to fuel injection so why not keep going. I thought with ECI you'd tune your carb lean and let the ECI trim the fuel curve as needed to maintain AFR but that's not what K&N said. In fact they didn't recommend having it active or in service continuously, rather occasional only when the 02 sensor detected a lean condition. It doesn't have an IAC so it's not going to be very helpful if RPM is to low in gear (my problem). I like what CDShack said and I'm inclined to get my carbs calibrated accordingly and i think I'll be fine. I've had a number of carbureted that ran fine, Just not one with this much cam and this much prop but as I said I'm hopeful with the right calibration things will work out.
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I'm taking it in steps:
Adding bigger oil coolers and heat exchangers Fresh fuel pumps (mechanical) and 1/2 hoses all the way Adding Weiand 177 blowers with pre-configured Holley carbs Adding O2 sensors to Gils and AFR guages so I can see where Air to fuel ratios are on carbs..... Then, eventually, going with the Snipers We will see how it works out for big cruiser. |
Originally Posted by ezrizer
(Post 4650072)
I spoke with K&N today and their ECi doesn't seem practical for my application. As others have pointed out at $800 you're well on your way to fuel injection so why not keep going. I thought with ECI you'd tune your carb lean and let the ECI trim the fuel curve as needed to maintain AFR but that's not what K&N said. In fact they didn't recommend having it active or in service continuously, rather occasional only when the 02 sensor detected a lean condition. It doesn't have an IAC so it's not going to be very helpful if RPM is to low in gear (my problem). I like what CDShack said and I'm inclined to get my carbs calibrated accordingly and i think I'll be fine. I've had a number of carbureted that ran fine, Just not one with this much cam and this much prop but as I said I'm hopeful with the right calibration things will work out.
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Originally Posted by Swamplizard
(Post 4650084)
I'm taking it in steps:
Adding bigger oil coolers and heat exchangers Fresh fuel pumps (mechanical) and 1/2 hoses all the way Adding Weiand 177 blowers with pre-configured Holley carbs Adding O2 sensors to Gils and AFR guages so I can see where Air to fuel ratios are on carbs..... Then, eventually, going with the Snipers We will see how it works out for big cruiser. |
I am freshening my 454's with 177 blowers, they only had 750 carbs on them when I bought the boat so I needed to buy something, I really wanted to do 1050's but a good friend talked me into injection. I am going to try the Sniper system. Should be on the dyno in the next couple of weeks. I will post results
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Originally Posted by resurrected
(Post 4650355)
I am freshening my 454's with 177 blowers, they only had 750 carbs on them when I bought the boat so I needed to buy something, I really wanted to do 1050's but a good friend talked me into injection. I am going to try the Sniper system. Should be on the dyno in the next couple of weeks. I will post results
As posted above - I have a friend who went Sniper on marine application - might be 540s with AFRs but he loves it and he runs the boat a ton every year (hundreds of hours) - long trips NW coast. After I get mine running - going Sniper on top of my Weiand 177s baby blowers 454 Mags. Post how your dyno goes or PM me please. Cheers and good weekend! |
The heads are 188s
Hoping to be dynoing this week. If the sniper is not where we are hoping and there is time I'll try a 1000 cfm carb I'll post results as soon as I can. I'm really looking forward to seeing how it runs |
Originally Posted by resurrected
(Post 4652078)
The heads are 188s
Hoping to be dynoing this week. If the sniper is not where we are hoping and there is time I'll try a 1000 cfm carb I'll post results as soon as I can. I'm really looking forward to seeing how it runs |
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...3f6ef65d13.jpg
515 with AFR 305 V2, 731 cam, Sniper, should be on the water in 2 weeks......https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...07a332b542.jpg |
575-600 Hp? |
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Originally Posted by Texascuda
(Post 4652196)
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No sir dyno with 850 cfm carb, Victor JR with ported to AFR heads.
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Sniper should work good in that HP range, let us know if it does. Wish Holley would come up with something for the 650-800 Hp range....
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Originally Posted by ezrizer
(Post 4652301)
Wish Holley would come up with something for the 650-800 Hp range....
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Originally Posted by Rookie
(Post 4652385)
Dual throttle body Sniper EFI tunnel ram
Has anybody come up with a reliable “command center” using the mech pump as a lift pump? |
note, I have to thank Alex Haxby as he sent me a tune and is going to help after it's on the water.
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Interesting by my buddy Steve.....
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Got the motor in, water line and oil line all donehttps://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...1d12a640f5.jpg
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Originally Posted by Texascuda
(Post 4652196)
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Not with the Imco powerflow this was with headers and an 850 carb, don't know how the Sniper will do but........
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Update: So started the engine this week ran Great, didn't have my rev limited set right ran the motor up to 6400 rpm, got that fix set it at 5500 so all good now. O2 sensors seem to be staying dry and no problems so far. Do have a video but not sure how to upload it, Holley Sniper is working as it should still need to do final tune but started 1st time.
Regards, Steve |
Sweet. I’m looking forward to hearing real world feedback. Are you going to be able to water test or is your season over? |
Will be on the water Saturday and hope to down load the logs after a test run then get with Alex to final tune the rest. It ran really well and with Eddie Young extending the inner pipe I think all is good, didn't go with a big cam, but still made 586hp.
Regards |
Nice setup there!
We've run them in several builds (cars), they work great, only had one issue with one of them and it was the screen was glitching on us, but holley has a good warranty, they replaced the handheld with no problems...with a marine setup i would say the only concern is keeping that 02 dry, otherwise your good. |
Added a short video
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Dyno'd my engine yesterday afternoon very happy with it
They broke it in prior to me heading down We made a couple pulls, ran very well Did not have time (small mom and pops shop and had three engines lined up to dyno) to do comparisons with carburetor, should be able to do that on the next one this winter when he slows down 668 ft/lbs at 3600 616 hp at 5500 incredibly flat torque curve 640ft/lbs at 2700 ran on 100 octane 454 -60 over, 188 heads, Howards roller cam, 8.5 static comp 177 blower with 3" pulley on top and 7" on the bottom Teague chillers too Single Holley Sniper Dyno headers with magnaflow mufflers I'll probably de tune it a bit for installation Sniper worked excellent, the digital dash is an awesome tool I'm looking forward to next summer! |
That’s impressive for a single TB on a 454. |
I was surprised, my goal was under 600
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Any runs made on this bad boy? :) |
Well weather was not great last weekend but tomorrow it goes in the water for a test run, will take some video and data log the results. I did run it for about 30 min on the muffs no problems.
PS: almost 70 today in Texas, 65 on Saturday....... Regards, |
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