Another tpi to carb conversion.
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,302
Likes: 1
From: Tomahawk WI
1. If fuel injection is not the main cause for very high engine life in the cars of the last 15 or 20 years then what is YOUR explanation for such a dramatic improvement?
I have a carb on my '86. I don't need a motor to last 300k miles. I want to beat everyone I race and tinker with the carb setup for fun. Mission accomplished.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 456
Likes: 3
From: Sumner Texas
I agree that it is much easier to make power on an SBC with a carb than with FI. And if you enjoy tinkering with it, then why not?
I also agree that engine oils have gone through DRASTIC improvement in the last 25 years or so, but it is in the area of additives. The additives have little to do with cylinder/piston/ring wear and everything to do with controlling contaminants to prevent corrosion and sludge. If your engine wears due to sludge and contamination you are not changing it often enough and the problem would be pretty much the same regardless of its induction type.
I can PROMISE you, however, that the modern FI system is, by far, the number one contributor to the increased engine life that we enjoy in our modern cars. I have explained in detail in previous posts why that is. You can believe it or not, but facts are facts.
I understand totally the motivation that leads one to a carb if their number one goal is power. The world is a compromise and if a person is willing to compromise decreased engine life and the other things we pointed out in this thread then they should go for it. After all, it's your car and you can do what you want with it, but please don't tell me that I am wrong about FI increasing engine life.
I'll tell you another thing that sticks in the back of my mind when I think of someone ripping off the FI unit. When I was about 16 or so, a neighbor friend of mine knocked on the door and told me to come with him to look at a Corvette that was for sale for $300. This would have been in about 1965.
We were both skeptical of a Corvette that would sell that cheap. We got there and we saw why. It was a 53 with a V8 cobbled in place. It was one of the worst butcher jobs of an engine swap I've ever seen. We looked at it and walked away agreeing that we both had now seen a $300 Corvette. We both also were not interested in the thing even for that price. We didn't even have a desire to negotiate for it.
Wouldn't it be interesting to know if that butcher job resulted in that car being scrapped. I would be willing to bet that it did. One of the rarest Corvettes ever made most likely hit the junk heap because someone took a hacksaw to it for modification.
Since then I have modified LOTS of cars, but from that sight, I developed a mindset about modifications. I go to a lot of trouble to make modifications in a way that can be reversed.
For those of you that, for whatever reason, put carbs on your Vettes, you may very well be rewarded later on if you will disconnect things and tie them neatly out of the way and not cut into any wiring harnesses and the like.
My $0.02,
I also agree that engine oils have gone through DRASTIC improvement in the last 25 years or so, but it is in the area of additives. The additives have little to do with cylinder/piston/ring wear and everything to do with controlling contaminants to prevent corrosion and sludge. If your engine wears due to sludge and contamination you are not changing it often enough and the problem would be pretty much the same regardless of its induction type.
I can PROMISE you, however, that the modern FI system is, by far, the number one contributor to the increased engine life that we enjoy in our modern cars. I have explained in detail in previous posts why that is. You can believe it or not, but facts are facts.
I understand totally the motivation that leads one to a carb if their number one goal is power. The world is a compromise and if a person is willing to compromise decreased engine life and the other things we pointed out in this thread then they should go for it. After all, it's your car and you can do what you want with it, but please don't tell me that I am wrong about FI increasing engine life.
I'll tell you another thing that sticks in the back of my mind when I think of someone ripping off the FI unit. When I was about 16 or so, a neighbor friend of mine knocked on the door and told me to come with him to look at a Corvette that was for sale for $300. This would have been in about 1965.
We were both skeptical of a Corvette that would sell that cheap. We got there and we saw why. It was a 53 with a V8 cobbled in place. It was one of the worst butcher jobs of an engine swap I've ever seen. We looked at it and walked away agreeing that we both had now seen a $300 Corvette. We both also were not interested in the thing even for that price. We didn't even have a desire to negotiate for it.
Wouldn't it be interesting to know if that butcher job resulted in that car being scrapped. I would be willing to bet that it did. One of the rarest Corvettes ever made most likely hit the junk heap because someone took a hacksaw to it for modification.
Since then I have modified LOTS of cars, but from that sight, I developed a mindset about modifications. I go to a lot of trouble to make modifications in a way that can be reversed.
For those of you that, for whatever reason, put carbs on your Vettes, you may very well be rewarded later on if you will disconnect things and tie them neatly out of the way and not cut into any wiring harnesses and the like.
My $0.02,
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,246
Likes: 1
From: SouthBend IN
Originally Posted by tsiawd1028
I completely agree with you mike. Hows the difference in performance? Also, did you order everything from one place? Any reccomendation where to purchase? also What fittings did you use to plumb the fuel system and what parts are you using?
thanks alot.
thanks alot.
You could just buy mine for 7K and be done with it.
Mike
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 6,130
Likes: 2
From: seattle WA
MB, you asked what experience I've had-and challenged me to reply-so here it is.I'm almost 62-I bought my first car a 1941 Plymouth at age
14, I had alot of work to just get it running-but did, My second and third were 49 and 50 Olds-both needed work-the list goes on and on!
I've built Fords, Chevys and Chrysler products-from porting jobs to complete builds-carbs-you name it on American cars-I've dealt with it!
If you had read my post accurately I never said anything derogative
about FI, carbs or YOU.This forum is here to help and encourage others,
not to bash-as you say you got bashed in another carb question-it seems to me-you're the one bashing! I agree-FI, along with a miriad of other improvement have helped the longevity of engine life.But I have no problem with carbs-if that's what one chooses to go with. So-lets forget the bashing and focus on helping and encouraging.And you are absolutely right on in regards to one thing-I'm not really interested in my autos reaching 300,000 miles.
14, I had alot of work to just get it running-but did, My second and third were 49 and 50 Olds-both needed work-the list goes on and on!
I've built Fords, Chevys and Chrysler products-from porting jobs to complete builds-carbs-you name it on American cars-I've dealt with it!
If you had read my post accurately I never said anything derogative
about FI, carbs or YOU.This forum is here to help and encourage others,
not to bash-as you say you got bashed in another carb question-it seems to me-you're the one bashing! I agree-FI, along with a miriad of other improvement have helped the longevity of engine life.But I have no problem with carbs-if that's what one chooses to go with. So-lets forget the bashing and focus on helping and encouraging.And you are absolutely right on in regards to one thing-I'm not really interested in my autos reaching 300,000 miles.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 456
Likes: 3
From: Sumner Texas
Rick,
Okay, but what I took as your bashing was when you flatly denied that FI vs. carb had anything to do with engine wear.
I too messed with my first car at 14, actually 13 but couldn't get a license 'til 14. It was a 48 Chevvy that came from the junkyard for $12.50. It was basically a collection of pieces that made up enough to build a car. Both doors, the trunk lid and hood as well as the body were all different colors. The engine was there and supposedly good, but required a good bit of work as did the brakes and transmission.
I guess you still don't want to answer my questions and that's fine.
Have a great day,
Okay, but what I took as your bashing was when you flatly denied that FI vs. carb had anything to do with engine wear.
I too messed with my first car at 14, actually 13 but couldn't get a license 'til 14. It was a 48 Chevvy that came from the junkyard for $12.50. It was basically a collection of pieces that made up enough to build a car. Both doors, the trunk lid and hood as well as the body were all different colors. The engine was there and supposedly good, but required a good bit of work as did the brakes and transmission.
I guess you still don't want to answer my questions and that's fine.
Have a great day,
2nd Gear
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Amen brother! I converted my 6-speed 89 vette to a carb and I love it. Mainly because I dont ride in the cab of flatbed tow trucks anymore;I still get 20+mpg(edelbrock 1406);I dont need to buy sensors that cost between $15 and $450;I have at least another 1000 rpm's on the powerband;and my car ALWAYS starts! Theres nothing wrong with old-school when you want performance thats both fun and dependable!
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6th Gear
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
tsiawd,
You seem like a good, hard working guy to me. I grew up without any money and had to work my way through school and pull myself up by my bootstraps, so I can relate with your trying to make every dollar count.
I wish you lived close to me, so that I could help you get your FI sorted out. I just hate to see you do such a downgrade on your car.
Until you learn more about your FI system and how to deal with it, I totally understand how it can appear overwhelming. Once you understand it, the problems are usually simple to figure out and usually not ridiculously expensive to fix. A REALLY good book on your L98 FI is "How to Repair and Modify Chevrolet Fuel Injection" by Ben Watson and published by Motorbooks International.
Since you have decided to go ahead with this, I would make one suggestion. Be very careful about how you remove the FI unit and wrap everything in plastic bags and box it up to keep. Disconnect your electrical connections and tape them up with electrical tape and use tie wraps to tie them back out of the way. Where you need to tap into a wire in the existing harness, make a connector that will plug into the original connector rather than cutting and splicing.
Do NOT just start cutting wires and throwing everything aside. Not only would this approach cause lots of possible problems even with the carbureted car, but also will make it near impossible to retrofit, thus potentially drastically decreasing the value of the car.
Remember that the engine computer controls things OTHER THAN the fuel injection. Things as simple as the cooling fans are run by the ECM. You really need a factory service manual on hand so that you can sort all this out as you go.
Finally, and please don't take this the wrong way, I am surprised that a younger person is doing what you're doing. It is usually an old codger like me that says "the heck with all this new fangled fuel injection, there's nothing like a good old carburetor." Resistance to change is a normal human trait, but you have to know one thing before something different can be considered change. The old guys that learned point ignitions and carburetors are often stuck in that world, but it seems unusual to see it go the other way for a young person.
Best of luck with the conversion and please keep us posted on your project.
Most of all, I expect that like many of us here, messing with cars is a hobby, so take your time, think it through and enjoy whatever car project you have your hands in.
Best of luck with it,
You seem like a good, hard working guy to me. I grew up without any money and had to work my way through school and pull myself up by my bootstraps, so I can relate with your trying to make every dollar count.
I wish you lived close to me, so that I could help you get your FI sorted out. I just hate to see you do such a downgrade on your car.
Until you learn more about your FI system and how to deal with it, I totally understand how it can appear overwhelming. Once you understand it, the problems are usually simple to figure out and usually not ridiculously expensive to fix. A REALLY good book on your L98 FI is "How to Repair and Modify Chevrolet Fuel Injection" by Ben Watson and published by Motorbooks International.
Since you have decided to go ahead with this, I would make one suggestion. Be very careful about how you remove the FI unit and wrap everything in plastic bags and box it up to keep. Disconnect your electrical connections and tape them up with electrical tape and use tie wraps to tie them back out of the way. Where you need to tap into a wire in the existing harness, make a connector that will plug into the original connector rather than cutting and splicing.
Do NOT just start cutting wires and throwing everything aside. Not only would this approach cause lots of possible problems even with the carbureted car, but also will make it near impossible to retrofit, thus potentially drastically decreasing the value of the car.
Remember that the engine computer controls things OTHER THAN the fuel injection. Things as simple as the cooling fans are run by the ECM. You really need a factory service manual on hand so that you can sort all this out as you go.
Finally, and please don't take this the wrong way, I am surprised that a younger person is doing what you're doing. It is usually an old codger like me that says "the heck with all this new fangled fuel injection, there's nothing like a good old carburetor." Resistance to change is a normal human trait, but you have to know one thing before something different can be considered change. The old guys that learned point ignitions and carburetors are often stuck in that world, but it seems unusual to see it go the other way for a young person.
Best of luck with the conversion and please keep us posted on your project.
Most of all, I expect that like many of us here, messing with cars is a hobby, so take your time, think it through and enjoy whatever car project you have your hands in.
Best of luck with it,
I have owned my 87 for 6 years and have nothing but problems out of the
L98 TPI electrical system and especially the MAF and MAF RELAYS. THEY SUCK! So I'm going carb. I'm done with the whole TPI setup.
