In case you missed it, there’s a new carburetor replacement EFI system in town. Sniper 2 is the result of years of rigorous development based on feedback from owners of first-generation Sniper EFI systems, and it brings a host of new features and upgrades into the mix.
Along with ground-up redesigns for the throttle body, linkage, and key elements of the system’s circuitry, Sniper 2 adopts a more modular design that allows folks to more customize their EFI systems to their personal preferences and the requirements of the project. In order to ensure that customers get everything they need while also reducing redundant or unnecessary components in these kits – an effort which ultimately helps keep costs in check – Holley has created the Sniper 2 online configurator.
Similar to the configuration programs that allow you to create virtual renditions of new vehicle builds on automaker websites, this system uses a series of drop-down menus to help guide you through the process of selecting the various options that are available for Sniper 2, along with components and accessories that are commonly involved when taking on an EFI conversion project. Let’s take a closer look at what’s available.
One of the cool things about Sniper 2’s throttle body-based approach to EFI is that it closely replicates the packaging and dimensions of a conventional four-barrel carburetor, and it’s compatible with the vast majority of traditional air cleaners. That inherently makes this a visually low-key way to retrofit your vintage ride with modern fuel injection, and the ability to select a finish for the throttle body housing that matches the rest of your engine bay takes this notion a step further.
Currently there are two different finishes available: Black, which employs a powder coating process to prevent corrosion and provide an understated look. Shiny is a no-cost option that adds a bit of under-hood bling for those who prefer a polished appearance.
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Sniper 2 systems can be controlled and monitored in a variety of different ways. The 3.5-inch handheld is a full-color LCD touchscreen display that allows you to set up and tune of the EFI system without a laptop or a Bluetooth connection. This screen offers a range of pre-configured, multi-gauge monitoring layouts, as well as the ability to customize your own. It also has ECU datalogging capability, along with advanced tuning options for fuel, closed loop, idle spark, and a number of other parameters. This display can also be purchased separately.
Similar in concept but larger in size, the 5.0-inch touchscreen handheld also offers plug-and-play setup, tuning, and monitoring functions for Sniper 2 EFI, but the expanded display area is only part of the story. Not only does this display boast twice the screen resolution as compared to the 3.5-inch handheld, it also features a one-touch dimming feature for nighttime driving as well as a built-in GPS antenna that provides digital speedometer functionality.
“It’s an attractive package that’s more purposely designed to be used for real time monitoring, but it’s still small enough to be easily hidden away if someone prefers to do that,” Dustin Wilson of Holley Performance explains. “There are some really great looking gauge options that are built into the display, along with pre-loaded gauge layouts – or you can use your own custom gauge layouts.” The 5-inch handheld is also available separately.
Sniper 2 comes with a Bluetooth interface module by default, making this the most affordable choice for user interfaces.
This option allows you to connect to the Sniper 2 EFI system with a free app for iOS or Android mobile devices. These apps provide the same functionality that you’d find in the 3.5 - or 5-inch handheld, but with the added convenience of wireless connectivity using a device that you probably already have on you. “You get the setup wizard, and all of the advanced tuning stuff that you’d have with the 3.5- and 5-inch displays,” says Wilson. “It’s also just really convenient way to interface with the Sniper 2 system – just fire up the app and it’s ready to go.”
It's also worth noting that Sniper 2 is compatible with Holley Pro Dash displays, which are available in 6.86-inch and 12.3-inch configurations. The latest version of these displays come equipped with an M8 connector, making this a true plug-and-play operation, while older Pro Dashes can be adapted to work with Sniper 2 with a service harness.
As we noted in our tech spotlight, the Power Distribution Module is designed to make it easier to tackle the wiring and set your vehicle up for a modern fuel injection system. The PDM provides robust electrical connections and cuts down on wiring clutter by consolidating your EFI and ignition wiring into one isolated module that offers conditioned power ground and switched connections for all EFI-related components.
The PDM can also distribute power to an EFI fuel pump and a cooling fan. If you’re using two engine fans (or an engine fan and an auxiliary fan for an oil cooler or trans cooler, for example), the second fan can also be controlled with a ground trigger by adding a relay and using the Sniper 2’s output harness.
This is a particularly important aspect of the Sniper 2 configurator. While the Sniper 2 is designed to function as a carburetor replacement and mount directly to common four-barrel intake manifolds thanks to its 4150-style flange, the fuel system it’s connected to must be set up to deliver the fuel pressure that EFI requires.
“The ‘Not Included’ option is for builders who already have an EFI-ready fuel system in their vehicle, or plan to design their own system,” says Matt Lunsford of Holley Performance. “Then we have the Sniper 2 Master Kit, which is a similar concept to the previous Sniper 1 Master Kit. This kit includes an in-line fuel pump that would go on a frame rail and gravity-feed into it from a fuel tank. With that setup you’d use the included regulator and a return line.”
Several different drop-in modules are also available. The returnless Universal Fuel Tank Module consists of an assembled low-profile pump that’s designed to be installed into existing fuel tanks that range from seven to 12 inches in depth. The preset, internally-regulated module only requires a single feed line to the Sniper 2 throttle body. The return-style Universal Fuel Tank Module utilizes a similar design, but it’s intended to be used with the included external fuel pressure regulator and return line.
Currently there are 48 different combinations that can be selected with the Sniper 2 online configurator. This wide range of options allows builders to put together everything from a trick returnless setup with a Power Distribution Monitor and a high-resolution display for real-time monitoring to a no-frills Sniper 2 kit with the standard Bluetooth interface module – the latter of which will likely appeal to folks who are upgrading from an original Sniper system to a Sniper 2.
Either way, the online configurator ensures that you’ll get everything you need, and nothing you don’t.
