Carb vs fuel injection???
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 120
Likes: 0
Carb vs fuel injection???
I am in the process of deciding if Im going to build an engine or buy a crate 383.
My question was with the new engine should I go carb or not?
The carb would be easier and cheaper. I wouldnt have to buy throttle body, intake system (super ram), Mass air, and mess with buying proms everytime i did something.
On the other hand would my 86 work witout the ECM controling everything. Such as dash cluster or any other problems Im not thinking about? I dont have emmisions testing so thats not a big concern.
My question was with the new engine should I go carb or not?
The carb would be easier and cheaper. I wouldnt have to buy throttle body, intake system (super ram), Mass air, and mess with buying proms everytime i did something.
On the other hand would my 86 work witout the ECM controling everything. Such as dash cluster or any other problems Im not thinking about? I dont have emmisions testing so thats not a big concern.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 120
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I was thinking they quit using them because of emisions and fuel economy. Its a weekend toy and I dont have testing so those things really dont bother me. Does the transmission need the ecm to monitor the engine for shift points ect? Or maybe brakes? I really dont know that much about these cars.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,146
Likes: 1,730
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Originally Posted by Conv389drv
Answer: emissions
Switching to carbs is dumb, unless you have an 84 in my opinion. A carbed engine will always have spots in the powerband where it will be too lean or too rich, whereas a FI motor adjusts itself to maintain A/F ratios.
FI will make more power nowadays than a carbed engine, although our batch-fire systems are not as advanced as the sequential they use now, its still better.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 120
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Im just taking your advise right now and making a plan.
My goal is to be in the 11s, and it looks like going with a whole crate, or building an engine would easier and less costly than trying to make mine get me there.
The only reason I was thinking carb was the expense of tuning the ecm which I know NOTHING about so I would have to be dependent on somebody else to do it for me every time I made a change.
My goal is to be in the 11s, and it looks like going with a whole crate, or building an engine would easier and less costly than trying to make mine get me there.
The only reason I was thinking carb was the expense of tuning the ecm which I know NOTHING about so I would have to be dependent on somebody else to do it for me every time I made a change.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,297
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From: east greenville PA
I am also considering going to a carbed 383 with my yellow '86. I know most will say that it is a step backwards but don't need emissions and the car is just going to be and occasional weekend driver. I am still going to keep the red '86 with FI but I want something different and more basic with the yellow 'vette. 
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,137
Likes: 5
From: Howard PA
I know I'll get slammed to death for this one but...
A well tuned carbed engine will make as much or more HP than a fuel injected engine.
Plus, for ease of tuning I can change jets, metering rods and step up springs faster than you can hook up your laptop bring up the program, look at the data log, make changes and dump the bin.
It's an interesting argument but there really is no clear winner depending on application.
A well tuned carbed engine will make as much or more HP than a fuel injected engine.
Plus, for ease of tuning I can change jets, metering rods and step up springs faster than you can hook up your laptop bring up the program, look at the data log, make changes and dump the bin.
It's an interesting argument but there really is no clear winner depending on application.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 120
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Yeah I really didnt want to start an argument. I am new to this forum and new to messing with the vette. It seems as though Ive hit on a touchy subject, but I really just want to know the best way to get my car in the 11s and spend the least money doing it. It dont get driven except on nice weekends. no long trips, no trips to work, just play time. I dont depend on the car for anything other than a fun factor and being able to go fast if the urge hits me. So all that in mind. what is the recipie for 11s (cheapest) Im not broke but I am conservative. 
Pro
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 517
Likes: 0
From: South Lyon Michigan
I have to give a vote for carb. But it is a lot of work to switch. The reason I like carbs are for ease of tuning and cost but if I had the cash I'd go with a custom fuel injection setup. You can make a carb a daily driver, I drive my car all summer and the only downfall is that it is harder to start with the carb, although fuel injection won't run as good either with a cam with 110 degree lobe seperation. Before you do the swap compare your options, you will save only a few hundred bucks by going carb so its more of a preference thing.
Changes needed for carb:
distributor
intake
upper radiator hose
fan control box
carb
air box
fuel pressure regulator
tv cable bracket
torque converter lockup switch
hood scoop: if you want a high rise intake.
To upgrade TPI:
Superram
throttle body
air box
fuel injectors
reprogram ECM/chip
Changes needed for carb:
distributor
intake
upper radiator hose
fan control box
carb
air box
fuel pressure regulator
tv cable bracket
torque converter lockup switch
hood scoop: if you want a high rise intake.
To upgrade TPI:
Superram
throttle body
air box
fuel injectors
reprogram ECM/chip
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 5,713
Likes: 105
From: Manassas VA
If you are shooting for the 11's and your car is a automatic, keep in mind that you have a dana 36 diff. It wont last long doing that. Set some money aside for a upgrade to a dana 44. Also, I believe the transmission will be fine, (93 or earlier) as it is not computer controlled other then the TC lockup, which you can do with a switch.
Pro
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 635
Likes: 6
From: New Jersey
Vette-Rookie
I'm in the same boat I have an 86, and I started pulling the engine out yesterday. I have an engine that has in my S-15 GMC that I built for the track, it was mild and could be drive daily. I got tired of the truck I brought the vette to put the engine in. The S15 ran 12.2s and weighed 10 lbs less than the vette, and I had a loose converter that slipped in high gear. But I'm going to see which is better a carb or EFI. I had to change the cam because the two I had was too big for what I wanted.
I was the one that post the 12 second club recently
Randy,
I'm in the same boat I have an 86, and I started pulling the engine out yesterday. I have an engine that has in my S-15 GMC that I built for the track, it was mild and could be drive daily. I got tired of the truck I brought the vette to put the engine in. The S15 ran 12.2s and weighed 10 lbs less than the vette, and I had a loose converter that slipped in high gear. But I'm going to see which is better a carb or EFI. I had to change the cam because the two I had was too big for what I wanted.
I was the one that post the 12 second club recently
Randy,
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 937
Likes: 0
From: Bedford Tx
a big plus for carb is, a wide choice of
intake manifolds is available.
Why is an old style distributor need for a carb conversion? Perhaps TPS could be added,
or simulated with resistors, or something.
Other than TCC, why is TPS needed?
intake manifolds is available.
Why is an old style distributor need for a carb conversion? Perhaps TPS could be added,
or simulated with resistors, or something.
Other than TCC, why is TPS needed?
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
It really doesn't cost that much to tune a TPI- Seems a few hundred dollars, tops. Once its tuned, there's no having to adjust it. I like carbs, too-But EFI has really grown on me. If its already there, I'd recommend using it.JMO
Pro
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 517
Likes: 0
From: South Lyon Michigan
Originally Posted by silver84
a big plus for carb is, a wide choice of
intake manifolds is available.
Why is an old style distributor need for a carb conversion? Perhaps TPS could be added,
or simulated with resistors, or something.
Other than TCC, why is TPS needed?
intake manifolds is available.
Why is an old style distributor need for a carb conversion? Perhaps TPS could be added,
or simulated with resistors, or something.
Other than TCC, why is TPS needed?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 937
Likes: 0
From: Bedford Tx
Originally Posted by jp2002ls1
An old style distributor is needed because the EFI distributors are computer controlled and the EFI distributors won't work with a carb.
Naturaly, it won't be controlling fuel delivery,
but why won't other functions work?
