1988 switching to carb
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
why? it's a huge step backwards...
the computer will require reworking. Your better off going to an old school HEI ignition.
personally, I advise against it. Especially if you have any hopes of smogging it.
the computer will require reworking. Your better off going to an old school HEI ignition.
personally, I advise against it. Especially if you have any hopes of smogging it.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,202
Likes: 3
From: MD
To answer your actual question, without going into the advantages of carb vs EFI, yes the computer will run everything else.
You need a vacuum advance distributor
A return-style regulator
Carb and intake
Brackets for the throttle cable (and trans cable if it applies to you)
After that the ECM doesn't really do anything. The dash will work fine because the signals go to the dash first, then the ECM. You will lose the MPG display, but all the important parts will work fine. You can do a search on the forum for MANY threads covering the advantages/disadvantages of carbs vs EFI, as well as threads containing part numbers of brackets, pictures, and detailed explanations.
You need a vacuum advance distributor
A return-style regulator
Carb and intake
Brackets for the throttle cable (and trans cable if it applies to you)
After that the ECM doesn't really do anything. The dash will work fine because the signals go to the dash first, then the ECM. You will lose the MPG display, but all the important parts will work fine. You can do a search on the forum for MANY threads covering the advantages/disadvantages of carbs vs EFI, as well as threads containing part numbers of brackets, pictures, and detailed explanations.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 170
Likes: 0
From: SWEDEN 1984 c4 with Edelbrock RPM toppkit
I have a 84 and an Edelbeock RPM topkit
http://www.vetteforum.org/attachment...5&d=1155595652
http://www.vetteforum.org/attachment...6&d=1155595718
http://www.vetteforum.org/attachment...3&d=1155595518
http://www.vetteforum.org/attachment...5&d=1155595652
http://www.vetteforum.org/attachment...6&d=1155595718
http://www.vetteforum.org/attachment...3&d=1155595518
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
Originally Posted by JLeatherman
To answer your actual question, without going into the advantages of carb vs EFI, yes the computer will run everything else.
And I agree that is a huge step backward in technology.
RACE ON!!!
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
Originally Posted by all show and more go
huge step backwards,lol,thats why the fastest cars at the track run carbs,but dont do it,be very careful,you might go faster!
RACE ON!!!
Pro
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 682
Likes: 1
From: SpringHill florida
Get yourself a dictionary and look up the word "technology". Do you see a level of performance associated with the definition? Then, go count the carbs on John Force's funny car. Next, go check your post count and pat yourself on the back for the worthless posts you made to this thread. Finally, go to the grammar barrel and see if you can fish out a capital letter or two, some periods and apostrophes, and maybe even some sentence structure.
RACE ON!!!
RACE ON!!!
race on!!! in the 13 sec club!!!
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Pro
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 682
Likes: 1
From: SpringHill florida
Get yourself a dictionary and look up the word "technology". Do you see a level of performance associated with the definition? Then, go count the carbs on John Force's funny car. Next, go check your post count and pat yourself on the back for the worthless posts you made to this thread. Finally, go to the grammar barrel and see if you can fish out a capital letter or two, some periods and apostrophes, and maybe even some sentence structure.
RACE ON!!!
RACE ON!!!
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
children. Be nice.
Carbs have their place... on a 1959 Buick comes to mind. Carbs are simple, but they are crude analog devices. Their linearity is only limited to their built in range. Hence, 4bbl carbs... but even then, they are sometimes tricky to get right. EFI has the linearity and tunabilty that only a carb can dream of. Given the right intake, the L98 with EFI will beat the hell out of a carb.
All Show - a 13 second, nearly stock xfire is pretty impressive. What kinda ETs are you producing?
I don't race, so I can't answer that question. But I will tell you this - if I was to build a race car, or older hot rod, I will install some form of EFI. Holley, FAST, Edelbrock... take your pick.
Carbs have their place... on a 1959 Buick comes to mind. Carbs are simple, but they are crude analog devices. Their linearity is only limited to their built in range. Hence, 4bbl carbs... but even then, they are sometimes tricky to get right. EFI has the linearity and tunabilty that only a carb can dream of. Given the right intake, the L98 with EFI will beat the hell out of a carb.
All Show - a 13 second, nearly stock xfire is pretty impressive. What kinda ETs are you producing?
I don't race, so I can't answer that question. But I will tell you this - if I was to build a race car, or older hot rod, I will install some form of EFI. Holley, FAST, Edelbrock... take your pick.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 682
Likes: 1
From: SpringHill florida
children. Be nice.
Carbs have their place... on a 1959 Buick comes to mind. Carbs are simple, but they are crude analog devices. Their linearity is only limited to their built in range. Hence, 4bbl carbs... but even then, they are sometimes tricky to get right. EFI has the linearity and tunabilty that only a carb can dream of. Given the right intake, the L98 with EFI will beat the hell out of a carb.
All Show - a 13 second, nearly stock xfire is pretty impressive. What kinda ETs are you producing?
I don't race, so I can't answer that question. But I will tell you this - if I was to build a race car, or older hot rod, I will install some form of EFI. Holley, FAST, Edelbrock... take your pick.
Carbs have their place... on a 1959 Buick comes to mind. Carbs are simple, but they are crude analog devices. Their linearity is only limited to their built in range. Hence, 4bbl carbs... but even then, they are sometimes tricky to get right. EFI has the linearity and tunabilty that only a carb can dream of. Given the right intake, the L98 with EFI will beat the hell out of a carb.
All Show - a 13 second, nearly stock xfire is pretty impressive. What kinda ETs are you producing?
I don't race, so I can't answer that question. But I will tell you this - if I was to build a race car, or older hot rod, I will install some form of EFI. Holley, FAST, Edelbrock... take your pick.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
and you just said what I said. TPI does suck... but once the intake is replaced, another 1000 rpm is found and drivability isn't lost.
By the time you buy a carb, retro fit it, get the intake and mess with all that crap, a Super Ram could be installed, emissions maintained and performance equalled, if not exceeded.
$$ for $$, the super ram is not a bad way to go, compared with the angst of screwing up the entire car and installing a carb.
TPI, as an electronics system is capable. However, the intake is a mess. The other downside is that the stock ECU is hard to tune these days - too many people have forgotten how to do it.
Check out this link: C4 Scan and Tune FAQ
By the time you buy a carb, retro fit it, get the intake and mess with all that crap, a Super Ram could be installed, emissions maintained and performance equalled, if not exceeded.
$$ for $$, the super ram is not a bad way to go, compared with the angst of screwing up the entire car and installing a carb.
TPI, as an electronics system is capable. However, the intake is a mess. The other downside is that the stock ECU is hard to tune these days - too many people have forgotten how to do it.
Check out this link: C4 Scan and Tune FAQ
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,050
Likes: 147
From: Phoenix AZ
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Finalist
tpi vs carb
Gentlemen: (used loosely)
Tpi is 25 year old technology that was the beginning of the musclecar comeback. It's not perfect, is RPM limited as stock, but it supplies tremendous driveability, reliability, and gas mileage when applied correctly. Totally tuneable and upgradeable for large power.
Carbs may provide as much horsepower when tuned correctly, but suffers driveability and less fuel mileage, and is a century old.
Stock carburetors are also horsepower and torque limiting.
Carburetion is not dead, it just isn't the latest thing anymore. It's still being improved as science allows. So is TPI.
Each is a trade off, and both have their place, and both have been replaced as the choice for manufacturers to install on the assembly lines. That is because for fuel and emissions, they have gone past accelerator pumps and batch fire injector programs.
Face it, it's almost the same type of argument as the ford/chevy argument, and each person has to decide what is best or fancies is the best for them.
Grow up, and co-exist in this fascinating techno world we live in, and stop bickering over the really small stuff.
Tpi is 25 year old technology that was the beginning of the musclecar comeback. It's not perfect, is RPM limited as stock, but it supplies tremendous driveability, reliability, and gas mileage when applied correctly. Totally tuneable and upgradeable for large power.
Carbs may provide as much horsepower when tuned correctly, but suffers driveability and less fuel mileage, and is a century old.
Stock carburetors are also horsepower and torque limiting.
Carburetion is not dead, it just isn't the latest thing anymore. It's still being improved as science allows. So is TPI.
Each is a trade off, and both have their place, and both have been replaced as the choice for manufacturers to install on the assembly lines. That is because for fuel and emissions, they have gone past accelerator pumps and batch fire injector programs.
Face it, it's almost the same type of argument as the ford/chevy argument, and each person has to decide what is best or fancies is the best for them.
Grow up, and co-exist in this fascinating techno world we live in, and stop bickering over the really small stuff.
Last edited by coupeguy2001; Apr 6, 2007 at 11:05 PM.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: shadow hills ca
okay here is the deal why im probably going carb. i just got a monster of a motor ,afr heads lunati crank trw pistons ect.,and it has a bolt on after market fuel injection system from a company called f.a.s.t. it has a brand new computer that piggy backs into the stock computer with a 450hp chjp,adjustable modes in the car so you can change settings on the fly.so new omp,new wiring harness,&instuction manual even giving mode settings. problem,
i cant find anyone in the la area that will tune it for any less than my first born! also what i ment will the ecm still work my 700 r tranny
i cant find anyone in the la area that will tune it for any less than my first born! also what i ment will the ecm still work my 700 r tranny
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,302
Likes: 1
From: Tomahawk WI
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: shadow hills ca
it would be greatly ap.if i could get as much info as possable.i really want to sell the aftermarket f.i. its new and very heavy duty but i think i wanna put a carb on it.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 174
Likes: 1
From: Bettendor Iowa
After 3 months of crappy performance and one code pulling fiasco after another....no starts, hard starts, won't idle, drives terrible, dies in the middle of an intersection, etc., etc.....
I made the decision to make the conversion. It was the right choice for me given the condition of the original TPI...coupled with my (admittedly) unwillingness to spend the time to learn the ins and outs of the system. I am very satisified with the result....start up, driveability, gas mileage, and HP/TQ output. However, I have significant mods beyond just the TPI to carb conversion.
There are a number of us here that have made the conversion and are happy to help.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 174
Likes: 1
From: Bettendor Iowa
Get yourself a dictionary and look up the word "technology". Do you see a level of performance associated with the definition? Then, go count the carbs on John Force's funny car. Next, go check your post count and pat yourself on the back for the worthless posts you made to this thread. Finally, go to the grammar barrel and see if you can fish out a capital letter or two, some periods and apostrophes, and maybe even some sentence structure.
RACE ON!!!
RACE ON!!!
