Just wanted to see what ya'll think or have experience with the holly snyper carb 550-869???? Also looking at the hyper spark system as well...# 565-310

 

I have a Sniper on my '76. And I love it. I let the programmer boot up, hit the key and BINGO in the front row. Houston, we have ignition.

It was on the car when I bought it and not programmed correctly. Thankfully, a local shop is highly skilled at programing these things. I am thinking of putting one on my Nova but, just haven't pulled the trigger.

Glad to see your car will be back on the road in time for cooler weather.

 

Thank you!!

 

COBRA, make sure you PM our members coppercutlass and cutlassefi if they don't quickly respond to your thread. They have alot of experience with EFI. I've been considering an EFI swap for quite some time and I'm sold on the positive reviews of the Holley Sniper. Now all I have to do is convince momma.

BTW, here's a good thread:

https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...-i-buy-125170/

 

I understand...If it works well, then i'll do my 1968 Pontiac Catalina...

 

I’m almost done installing the Q-Jet Sniper, fairly easy install, but the wiring harness needed to be modified on my 442 to move the fuel pump relay to the trunk, lengthen a few other wires. The throttle cable worked fine. I suggest a 4 post battery to make a hookup easier. I also installed the Holley Retro pump in my stock tank.
Let us know how it goes.

 

Cool..Im going to install the fuel tank fuel pump as well..I will install this some time in sept when my car gets out of the body shop.... https://www.holley.com/products/fuel...s/parts/12-303

 

This is the one i'll be purchasing...https://www.holley.com/products/fuel.../parts/550-869

 

I’ve got one sitting in a box ready to go on my 425 build. Will be using the dual sync distributor on my setup along with an in tank pump. Unfortunately too early to offer any feedback. Good luck!

 

COOL..What is the purpose of the dual sync dist???

 

From what I researched, nothing much with a standard sniper. I went with it for two reasons. First, it has a melonized gear for my roller cam. Second, eventually I want to go to a multi-port system, and the dual sync will allow control of a sequential fuel injection system.

 

I have installed 4 units my self. Ran one on my Pontiac. With no real issues. My disclaimer is that everything must be best to work best specially with the self learn . If not your will need to find a trusty tuner. I got my unit to run very well in their ( run it out the box claim) it took some work. I could never tune the slight spike in AFR on decel by tailoring the timing curve and I never bothered to get a tune. I sold my set up and went back to carb as in between my install I also started tuning my olds with an AFR gauge and I felt that's something I really need to master before I go any dirty with the EFI on my stuff. To really take advantage of the sniper you really need the spark controller imo. Don't expect for it to work perfect out the box. I just installed one in a 65 mustang and it's my first set up with serious RFI issues which Ford's are notorious with on the sniper set ups. There is some quality issues. I killed an O2 sensor within 100 miles and replaced with a. Audi take off unit. Then there was the sticky IAC valve. Both common issues on the sniper. Over all the kit worked well cold starts where crappy and I could have tuned it but my whole goal was to really run the sniper as they claim. Plug and play and really i have never had to work that hard to get a carb to work good out the box. So pick your poison. That's just my 2 cents. Many guys love the set up for me. I got better with carbs and sticking with them.

 

Its kinda like all things...For the most part, these cars were designed / built to to do what they did with optimal, albeit generic, performance. When we change something to make it "more better" or introduce new technology, something else is sacrificed, or also requires a modification. A simple thing like headers could cause adjustments to brackets, mounts etc.. Heat issues flare up, some starters have to protected from heat saturation. LED lights may need addition relays. Even mildly built engines create cooling upgrades. The list goes on...

I reckon its just part of the Man Rule. Everything you change to make it work better creates more work.

 

I jumped on the Sniper bandwagon early, I REALLY wish I had waited until some of the bugs were worked out.

When I first heard about the Sniper EFI, I called Holley and asked a bunch of questions. I told them what my car runs, I told them I had nitrous, line lock and 2 step, A/C, etc. I was assured the sniper will control all of that. While that is true, they neglected to tell me if you want the progressive nitrous control, you can’t use the 2 step function. After selling my existing progressive nitrous controller, I found out they didn’t have the software available yet. The dual synch distributor release was delayed due to production issues, so I ran the HEI for the first year I had it. Add the issue of touchy throttle,


I had also complained about the noisy fuel pump since I first installed the system. I was told to make sure the fuel pump was insulated from the tank, add insulation between the body and fuel tank, isolate fuel lines, etc. This past winter I replaced the 25 year old analog Autometer gauges with new electric. After installing them, I found out the fuel pressure was well over 90psi. Changing the internal regulator did nothing, as did unhooking the return line. The restriction was inside the throttle body. As we speak, my car is torn apart in the garage, I’m waiting on a replacement throttle body. While I don’t really regret the EFI, I don’t think too highly of Holley costumer service. Seems like their tech assistance isn’t all that up to date or eager to help.

 

I’ve tuned on Harley’s for 15+ years. Every tuner available gives you several (50+) base maps to start with. Every map has outlined parameters such as cubic inches, cam profiles, headwork, headers, TB and injector size, compression ratio, etc. There is no one size fits all as you can do serious damage to your engine quickly. Holley would have a lot more satisfied customers if they would do their due diligence and offer up base tuning profile maps. The O2 sensor can only tune at idle and steady throttle openings. If you’re going to make the investment in a Sniper system, you have to be willing to let it learn slowly or take it to an experienced installer that has figured out what parameters to start with for your engine specs.

 

This simple part fixed the touchy throttle for me...But, I did have to introduce heavier return spring action.

https://www.efisystempro.com/sniper/...on-lever-20-16

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I’ll say it again, Holley has been building carbs for almost 60 years with the same basic throttle linkage (4150-4160 series carbs) why did the decide to do things differently with the sniper linkage?

 

Pretty much explains why I’m rarely an early adopter of anything. Buying in this late, I’m aware of what I’m getting into and the potential issues I’m inviting in. Of course, I wouldn’t know those things without early adopters like you, so...bit of a catch 22.

 

I have never one to buy or try anything the first year of production, except with this. I don’t like to be the unpaid quality control!! For the most part, Holley has made things right, it’s just a question of getting thru to the right people.

 

Love the sniper! Plain and simple. I will never do a carb again unless it's to limp me home or break in an engine. Are there things to complain about.? Of course. It's newer to me, been running it a year or so but it's been a good set up for me. Personally speaking.
Just turn the key and go and that sells it for me.. Controlling timing, adjusting your mixture, idle and data logging all while sitting in your drivers seat... That's hard to beat. I'll be honest I haven't even datalogged yet, only adjusted timing and afr while reading the spark plugs has got me a steady daily driver. Point being I haven't even tapped into the full potential and it's working really well to say the least. Why spend $6-7 or $1000 for a quality carb when you can do this setup for around $1500 and be all in and ready to go..Carbs are good, I love carbs but this thing will have you spoiled, smile

 

I spent 300 on a used Holley 750 HP series carb and 175 on an AFR gauge. 50 on the rebuild kit my tune works flawless. Even on 30 degree days with no choke. Keep in mind I ran a sniper and my edlebrock carb on that specific set up f
was far more reliable.

 

Now your getting into 'who's the better mechanic, or tuner' and clearly you are.. I think for me and maybe the original poster, can't speak for him, is that you wanna set it and forget it or tune with ease - nonetheless. Simplicity is why the sniper got my vote and ease of use. Either way it goes there's really not a bad choice between the two, carb or sniper. Pick your poison

 

My point was tuning a carb isn't that hard. You are gonna have to learn to tune one or the other. Most sniper set ups benifit from fine tuning. .

 

Well, the the Nova has been sitting far way to long. Went to take her for a run today and she just didn't want to fire. A little "flooding" didn't help. Went to O'Reilly and picked up some Fire Starter . One squirt later and we were up and running. The Cutlass, with the Sniper, would not have given me a chance to provide that bit of human error.

While I am a Sniper fan, I still haven't determined if the Nova is going to get one, or not. But, I really, really do like turning on the key, boot her up and let her rip.

On Edit: My Grandson and I had a GREAT hour and half run this morning.

 

Thank all of ya'll's information...good reports..