ceh_69

would like to here peoples thoughts say a 1981 corvette 5.7 with a 4 bl carb or say a 1982 corvette 5.7 with the cross fire injection . whats the better option carb or cross fire injection and less maintenance and trouble thanks so much

KenSny

Carb for me.
Qjet is OK, Holley better.

resdoggie

Carb or modern FI.

Bikespace

Of those two cars, only the 1981 could have come with a 4-speed manual, stock. So carb. If you find a mint 1982 with no drivetrain to restomod, go with modern EFI and a modern transmission one way or another.

A running car that you can drive right now is always the right answer, though.

7T1vette

If the '82 is stock and the engine management system is working fine...AND I was not looking for more power from it...I'd go for the C/F system. No headaches on start-up, idle quality; O/D transmission for comfort on the highway and good mileage.

Pre-82 C3 with a carb will get NONE of those things.

cv67

Always been a carb guy but as said EFI is all around better epecially if youre lugging it in OD
. 2 of the most reliable trucks Ive owned were TBI injected.
Neither are bad though

terry82

If you don't like maintenance ,I would stay away from anything that is 10 years or older.Alot of years and a lot of miles = a lot of maintenance .pick the car that has been taken of the best and take your chances.

calwldlife

good question.
i have years of experience with the 81 carb.
only know about the semi fuel injection 82 from reading.

a few things mentioned/
overdrive
cold starts
sway the choice to 82.

all said and done 81 is a carb.
so choke and all things carb related apply.

the choke cycle and time it takes for the engine to come to temp and
02 sensor to take over has been a pain in my butt.
i have no experience with 82 warm up but if it
acts like fuel injection, win.

Sabre34

Carb.

derekderek

I would do 80 or older if carb. That halfass ECU controlled carb is worst of all possible worlds. It was probably more mpg specs they had to hit than emissions and, let's face it, they didn't know how yet.

7T1vette

'81 was the first year for ECU in Corvette (for all of U.S.); and that early system was patch-work with unique carb, distributor, and ECU. It had a lockup clutch in the auto trans...but no overdrive.

ECU system was MUCH better in '82 (and same for '84 C4 car). It still used the OBD-I system but the components and software were much better and the trans was 700R4 O/D unit.

2TONE82

^ Nails it...The early 80s were weird for us all, LOL and GM was no exception! The Crossfire motor/tranny was ready for the "new body style" 83 Corvette but the rest of the car wasn't so the introduction was delayed a year. That power train technology got pulled backwards (a rarity in and of itself) to be used in the closeout of what we now call the C3 body style.

I'm partial to the '82 as I've had one in my garage since 1996. I graduated high school and enlisted in the Marines in 1982...that's the car I wanted and finally landed a few years later.

Enjoy the hunt!

leadfoot4

Understand what you're saying, but how long are repair parts going to be available, if needed, for a one model year fuel system, that is now 36 years old?





I disagree. I had two different cars that had the "electronic feedback" Quadra-Jet carburetors, and they worked just fine. Over time, I even threw rebuild kits, with the bronze throttle shaft bushings, at them, and other than having to learn a couple of additional adjustments, they were just like working on any other Q-Jet. And when adjusted properly, and the corresponding vacuum switches/lines working properly, they performed well.

maj75

Carb cause my 427 is all original��

c3_dk

My first choice would be modern EFI, and second choice is carb. (Holley)

JohnRogers

Cross-Fire

Aftermarket EFI

Carburetor

USAFVeteran

I installed FAST fuel injection on my 71 LS-5 454 (that someone put in my 69 coupe). I completely rebuilt the motor, and put that FI on it. It is more responsive than the Holley that was on it. And now it makes a ton more HP, more to the internal parts than the FI, but still more HP.


I won't ever build another car, or truck without a FI system of some sort. I just happen to have used the FAST this time, and it works, GREAT!!

yzguyfl

I'm almost done with the sniper EFI install on my 82. Sure the ctossfire could be reliable, but failed to start on the second trip out if the house after I got it. I probably could have fixed it, but then another part would be next in line to fail. So I put a carb intake on, and installed the sniper. I likely also have more hp now also. I got the 82 cheap, so it was worth it.

MelWff

I would go with 80 or earlier carburetor

7T1vette

There is as much to go wrong with a carb & distributor system as there is with a TBI or EFI and ECU system. The difference is how you FEEL about them. The EFI type system is what ALL vehicles have gone to. But, if all you know is carbs, that's what you're going to do.

BTW, did you put a carb on your new car when you bought it?? I thought not....

Yes, all the parts for an '82 C/F system are readily available.