What type of EFI came standard on a 1989 Formula?

Someone is selling one with 4BBL EFI.

I've seen Holley conversion kits for 4BBL carburetors, but I'm not familiar with the EFI system in the firebird.

Is it really a 4BBL EFI?

 

No. It's probably a TBI unit. That's what it would have come with stock. Kinda looks like a 4 barrel. EFI doesn't require "barrels" since it forces the fuel in under pressure - it does not rely on venturi's to suck the fuel into the engine.

If that's the case it would be the 305 L03 throttle body injection.

350 models have the L98 which comes with the Tuned Port Injection (TPI). Which is completely unlike a "4 barrel EFI" - whatever the seller means (probably means he has no clue) by that.

There were no factory carbed F bodies in 89.

Or it could be some aftermarket piece. Pictures?

GD

 

I only have the ad link:
https://tampa.craigslist.org/psc/cto...875320743.html

I questioned the "4BBL", because I know that there were no factory carburetors in firebirds in 1989. The owner assured me that it is a 4BBL EFI. But, the ad also says, "very fast", so I'm not sure this seller knows a whole lot.

 

No that's an L05. The little brother to the LB9 (TPI). It's in no way a 4 barrel anything. If anything it's a "2 Barrel" because it has 2 injectors with 2 throttle plates. But technically it is Throttle Body Injection (TBI). The seller has no idea what he is talking about.

GD

 

L03 maybe ?

 

Sorry. Yeah L03. The ~165 HP 305. Not exactly "very fast" lol.

GD

 

Looks like it’s a tbi car , the seller also mentioned no aftermarket parts.

 

Relatively speaking, even in the context of 1989 "fast", it was a slug even in 1989.

A friend of mine had a 1988 Formula 350. By today's standards, that was a dog. But back then, it was pretty quick.

 

Exactly. Seems like people dog on the tbi powered cars but the TPI isnt exactly a speed demon in stock form either.

Other than the Grand National and the Turbo Trans Am, everything was pretty pathetically slow by todays standards.

 

But it's got a reproduction "305 TURBO FIRE" aircleaner decal AND chrome exhaust tips from Autozone! You KNOW it's gotta be fast.

To be completely fair to TPI cars, G92 and R6P cars were fairly fast for the time period. Even by early LS1 standards, they weren't that bad. A well optioned L98 car could beat a LS1 across an intersection. You just ran out of steam about the same time the LS1 got into it's torque curve. TPI cars get a bad rep for all the 2.77 geared, peanut cammed cars people bought without selecting the right options. The best TBI 305 was always a pig.

 

This. My LB9 peanut cam TPI is actually quite "quick" between stop lights. 3000 stall and 3.70 gears make that happen. With the stock converter and 2.77's it was a total slug.

GD