Marine City, MI. November 20, 2007 –Not every company has the privilege of upgrading a fleet of amphibious WWII landing vehicles to fuel injection. Howell Engine Developments, longstanding experts in EFI conversions, was very pleased to assist Tony Cerulle, one of the owners and Director of Vehicle Maintenance of Boston Duck Tours, when he inquired about converting one of his WWII landing vehicles. Cerulle’s sightseeing business is unique. After giving his customers a tour of the finest historic and cultural sites in Boston, they are treated to a ride into the Charles River aboard a completely renovated Coast Guard approved WWII […]
Marine City, MI. November 20, 2007 –Not every company has the privilege of upgrading a fleet of amphibious WWII landing vehicles to fuel injection. Howell Engine Developments, longstanding experts in EFI conversions, was very pleased to assist Tony Cerulle, one of the owners and Director of Vehicle Maintenance of Boston Duck Tours, when he inquired about converting one of his WWII landing vehicles.
Cerulle’s sightseeing business is unique. After giving his customers a tour of the finest historic and cultural sites in Boston, they are treated to a ride into the Charles River aboard a completely renovated Coast Guard approved WWII amphibious landing vehicle. These rare vehicles are gas-guzzlers and very few are still operational. Used during WWII to unload cargo from US Naval ships to the beach, they were configured to protect both cargo and the men they transported. Half boat and half truck they were code-named DUKW, hence the very appropriate company name – Boston Duck Tours.
Tony Cerulle, owner of Boston Duck Tours, initially converted his first WWII landing vehicle to EFI for more power and reliability in 2006. As this was his first EFI conversion for these WWII transport vehicles, it took about a week to properly modify the intake manifold, fabricate the piping for the fuel pump and craft a system that satisfied Coast Guard regulations.
The experience with the pilot vehicle convinced him to convert almost his entire fleet, 23 total, of six cylinder and V8 powered vehicles to fuel injection using Howell’s Throttle Body Kits.
Cerulle says, “I was familiar with Howell products from my Jeep
four wheeling days, so decided to try them with the DUCK. After we worked through those first fabrication issues, we were banging each one out in about three days. The instructions are simple to understand. I’ve got to tell you, even though I converted initially for the power and reliability, I was really surprised by the fuel mileage we gained…somewhere between seven to eight gallons per vehicle per day with both the six cylinder vehicles and the V8s. In our business that’s significant. LOVE the product.”
Howell’s GM-oriented wiring harnesses are constructed using GM Packard high temperature (TXL insulation) automotive wire, genuine Packard connectors and terminals, and Packard crimping tools. With these components, you can expect GM 100,000+ mile durability and function.
For additional information, visit www.howell-efi.com, or call 810.765.5100. Howell Engine Developments is located at 6201 Industrial Way, Marine City, MI, 48039.
