EFI or Carb
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,712
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From: Tampa FL
EFI or Carb
I'm sure this has been debated before, but I'm just wondering what the general opinion is ... pretend money is not an issue. This is for an L-82, so what's going to bring the most power and reliability at the same time? Seems like every performance carb I've ever come across has a flat spot somewhere so I'm thinking EFI might be the way to go, but not sure. Just looking for others thoughts.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
[This answer will get a lot of "flames".] IMO, your best choice would be to spend the buck$ necessary to get the original induction system working correctly again. It should be less expense than converting to anything else, and (regardless of what most owners would say) GM did a pretty good job of engine design and having good matches between the induction systems and the capabilities of the engine on which they were installed. Sometimes finding the parts, knowledge and experience it takes to get an older induction system working properly can be a pain. If you can't (or don't want to) make that happen, installing a well set-up Q-Jet would be another alternative.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,996
Likes: 79
From: central FL, near the beach.
an 8 barrel EFI is where i would be happy.
u know, like the old Hillborn, but EFI.
thats assuming u like lots of power and have a laptop to tune it.
Frankly, the guys here can't afford it. I'm cheap too
my target for it: a 355 maybe up to 550hp @ 7000 one can dream 
u know, like the old Hillborn, but EFI.
thats assuming u like lots of power and have a laptop to tune it.
Frankly, the guys here can't afford it. I'm cheap too
my target for it: a 355 maybe up to 550hp @ 7000 one can dream
Last edited by Matt Gruber; Sep 9, 2007 at 02:44 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 20,708
Likes: 25
From: Sorrento Italy
...a C3, like all period muscle cars, wants CARBS all the way...leave the efi for proper and politically correct non polluting match boxes.
If you want super performance and money is not an iussue, get a 4 twin webers kit, they look the business, go like hell and are a state of the art italian craftmanship
...and now you can flame me while i drink my last coffee of the day
If you want super performance and money is not an iussue, get a 4 twin webers kit, they look the business, go like hell and are a state of the art italian craftmanship
...and now you can flame me while i drink my last coffee of the day
Last edited by panic; Sep 9, 2007 at 05:29 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,668
Likes: 118
From: St. Charles Mo
CI 5 & 8 Veteran
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,143
Likes: 0
From: Leander Texas
My opinion is if money isn't a factor It would be EFI. I converted to EFI mostly for something to do. My carb worked well, and was rather reliable when in proper tune. Both systems have there pros & cons, I just prefer the EFI.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
Hands down EFI is the way to go. It will provide much better driveability and some mileage and will produce good power if tuned correctly. It will be expensive to do it right. I have been considering this for my car also but the cost started to get to high for the amount I drive it. My 825 Mighty Demon produces good HP but startup is a little challenging and it does not idle below 950 rpm. I have driven it some more miles than usual this year and it has performed very well. I might just keep the ol carb. Heck it is an old car it is going to be a little cantankourous at times, that is half the fun of it.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 10,643
Likes: 8
From: Foxfield CO 1970 Convertible
IMO - Tests show you won't get any more power going to EFI, but you sure will get reliability, smoother idle, "tuneability", and possibly better mileage.
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 20,708
Likes: 25
From: Sorrento Italy
[QUOTE=Belgian1979vette;1561852133]I just want a lott more air on top without sacrificing to much low down.....
you can have plenty of air through the rev range with this hardware, and as a bonus like a cherry on top of the ice cream, an intoxicating and glamorous heavy gasoline smell too...
you can have plenty of air through the rev range with this hardware, and as a bonus like a cherry on top of the ice cream, an intoxicating and glamorous heavy gasoline smell too...
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 20,708
Likes: 25
From: Sorrento Italy
no, really, if you're looking for smoothness and bottom end driveability then you're more then right to get the efi option...
but if you're hungry for troubles then you'd find out a big carb will be a perfect companion.
by the way, where are you from belgium? i go to bruxelles every year, i love to seat right in the middle of the grand place by night and bring back good memories
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,668
Likes: 118
From: St. Charles Mo
CI 5 & 8 Veteran
Z-man, I don't buy it. Dyno tests I have witnessed here in town at Competition Marine show more power across the total throttle range using today's EFI over a carb. With today's EFI technology you can tune individual cylinders, at multiple throttle positions including WOT. Difficult to impossible with a carb. Total power across the throttle range = "more power" in my book. Just testing it at WOT is deceiving. But I know you already know this.... Just don't want to give "panic" any encouragement 
Bullshark
Just don't want to give "panic" any encouragement Bullshark
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,441
Likes: 0
Panic, once the system is setup it's just as trouble free, if not more so, than a carb. And you don't need to be an expert in fluid dynamics to tune it, just the WBO2 option. I'd be just as likely to go back to a carb as I would go back to 70 series bias ply tires.
If you ever change your mind there are plenty of folks on this forum to get help from.
If you ever change your mind there are plenty of folks on this forum to get help from.
Last edited by shafrs3; Sep 10, 2007 at 08:46 AM.
