BBC fuel injection is a type of mechanical fuel injection that was originally developed in the 1940s, specifically for hot rods, and it's also popular in muscle cars. This form of mechanical fuel injection does not rely on any type of electronic communication to set the correct air to fuel mixture in the cylinder. All of the injectors, pumps, valves and plumbing are mechanical. These systems are built for big engines and are not found typically on passenger vehicles.
The history of BBC fuel injection is not long because it became very popular in the 1950s and was used for high performance vehicles. In particular, Mopar and GM vehicles used these fuel injection engines. At the time, electronic fuel injection was not very reliable and mechanical fuel injection used carburetors which produced very high power outputs. Most of the land speed records used this sort of fuel injection. The earliest version was a Bosch design found in Mercedes-Benz cars, first available in 1957. One of the most popular versions is the early Hillborn version, which was used extensively in drag racing. These original versions only tend to be found in restored vehicles.
A very basic understanding of how this works is that the fuel pressure and timing of the valves are determined by the engine revs and the throttle. Hot rods tend to have higher rpms and much more throttle than traditional passenger vehicles. The timing and mixture of fuel and air requires the proper tuning before driving. Once the vehicle is running at its normal temperature, the performance and fuel economy are at its best. It was possible to tune the injection for racing conditions. Some of the fastest speeds were achieved using BBC systems.
Hot rods and muscle cars are known for having big engines. Therefore, a big fuel injection system is needed to provide the proper fuel and air mixture to each of the cylinders. Typically these are found on V8 engines. BBC systems can handle engines that are big and need plenty of fuel.
The actual conversion to this type of fuel injection is not overly difficult. Most fuel injection systems have the electronics and programming already pre-installed. Therefore, it is just a matter of switching out the carburetor for the sensors and injectors of the new system. It is possible to customize the injection system, though welding and machining is required. The new manifold with injectors as well as throttle body may not come with all the necessary pieces. Several sensors will need to be purchased separately. Make sure that the conversion kit can be used for the make, model and engine of the vehicle.
Besides the original mechanical versions, these injection units are also available with electric control. Electric control offers even more performance and fuel efficiency. The software in the car computer contains charts and algorithms that will adjust each injection so the optimal fuel and air mixture is used for the vehicle's load. With an electric unit the fuel efficiency is at its best in all driving conditions and not just when racing.
