Holley Sniper Installation for Beginners
Upgrading to a Holley Sniper EFI is a wise move. You’re about to significantly improve your vehicle’s fuel efficiency and economy. Believe it or not, adding a Sniper is much easier than you may think: You just need plenty of garage space, the right tools and a few hours of your time. This short guide explains the basic ins and outs of installing your brand new EFI.
Engine and Fuel System Requirements
Insights
Before choosing your Holley Sniper, you must ensure that your vehicle is compatible. Its engine and fuel system need to meet certain requirements. Fortunately, these are pretty straightforward. Review the following information for more details.
Engine Specs
To get the most out of your EFI, your engine must be in good mechanical shape. Holley suggests installing it on an eight-cylinder engine using unleaded fuel and with a total horsepower of between 800 and 1,500. It strongly recommends a four-barrel, 4500-style flange intake manifold. Use only silicone-safe RTV sealants.
Fuel System
Your vehicle should be outfitted with a high-pressure fuel pump at 60 PSI with a minimum of 50 gallons/hour of fuel flow. If your fuel pump doesn’t already meet these specs, you have a few options: an inline pump, an in-tank pump or a complete fuel tank replacement.
Depending on your vehicle, you may also need to upgrade your fuel line. Experts recommend a 3/8-inch fuel-injection approved hose for supply and return lines.
What You Need
Prior to installing your Sniper EFI, you should set up your work area. To start with, you’ll need plenty of room plus a few critical tools:
- Digital voltmeter
- Drill with assorted drill bit sizes
- Small and medium blade screwdrivers
- Standard and Allen wrench sets
- Terminal crimping tool
You also need a #2 Phillips screwdriver and a 7/8-inch drill bit. Holley recommends a step-bit for your installation project.
Installation Overview
Once you have your workspace and tools, EFI installation is a fairly simple process. Luckily, your Holley Sniper EFI comes with complete instructions. However, you may find a quick summary helpful.
Your kit comes with essential components. The EFI’s throttle body bolts directly onto the intake. You may opt to install the temperature sensor in the intake or cylinder, but the O2 sensor must be mounted away from heat sources. You’ll also need to connect the four wires included with the kit to the following points:
- Switched 12-volt source (pink wire)
- Tachometer signal (brown)
- Positive battery terminal (red)
- Ground wire to negative terminal (black)
Keep in mind that your installation instruction will differ according to the type of Sniper you buy. Be sure to read the owner’s manual that comes with your new EFI kit.
Other Upgrades
Installing a Holley Sniper Hyperspark along with your EFI adds ignition timing control to your Holley EFI. By providing higher energy sparks at lower RPMs, you achieve more complete fuel/air combustion for improved performance. Meanwhile, you may also want to upgrade your brakes for enhanced stopping power to match. Wilwood brake kits are designed to meet the demands of high-performance vehicles with materials that withstand high-friction and hotter temperatures.
