EFI to Carb
Corvette Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,800
Likes: 2,724
From: So. Cal.
2025 C7 of the Year Finalist- Unmodified
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Pro
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 550
Likes: 0
From: Hesperia California
My 89 is heavily modded and I considered it however, I understand there is a fitment problem under the stock hood. Did not want to cut a hole.
Life would have been a lot easier, and cheaper.
Good luck!
Life would have been a lot easier, and cheaper.
Good luck!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,838
Likes: 31
From: Australia
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 133
Likes: 0
From: Mt Pleasant Michigan
Cal 924
Do a search this has been covered a lot of times Just last week even.
A lot of guys have done it. Not to bad to do, Send a Pm to some of the Guys that have done it they can answer questions.
Do a search this has been covered a lot of times Just last week even.
A lot of guys have done it. Not to bad to do, Send a Pm to some of the Guys that have done it they can answer questions.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 584
Likes: 1
From: Near Lockport NY Black 1986 Coupe
It's not that hard to do a swap, but there are definite drawbacks. One is fuel mileage - kiss your 24 MPG goodbye because the best you'll get with a carb is 15. Another drawback is hood clearance, so you'll have to run a low-rise dual-plane intake and no taller than a 3" air cleaner ontop of the carb. Cold starts are also a pain, because the motor will take forever to warm up.
On the plus side, no more sensors to worry about - ever. Simplified tuning and you won't run into any RPM restriction as long as your intake is matched with the cam. Oh yeah, and no more injectors.
Now I'm not saying a carb is "cheap" by any means, a nice one will set you back $600 easily, but compared to the ECU, injectors, sensors, TB, and all the other added hardware for EFI - it makes life more simple.
On the plus side, no more sensors to worry about - ever. Simplified tuning and you won't run into any RPM restriction as long as your intake is matched with the cam. Oh yeah, and no more injectors.
Now I'm not saying a carb is "cheap" by any means, a nice one will set you back $600 easily, but compared to the ECU, injectors, sensors, TB, and all the other added hardware for EFI - it makes life more simple.
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Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,521
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From: Hartford WI
I wouldn't simply because I hate carbs. Old technology and there is better out there. I am more comfortable with computers so I don't see too much of an issue. Aids diagnostics. Sure, tuning can be difficult if you don't know how but same with a carb. I changed all my machines to EFI whenever possible. How often do I have to tune the system? Not that often that it is impossible to bring to a tuner.
Corvette Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,800
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From: So. Cal.
2025 C7 of the Year Finalist- Unmodified
2024 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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My .02 on carbs
Back in the day, we only had carbs. IMO.................carbed engines last significally less time than EFI. Carbed engines devolop "sludge" that basically chokes the oiling system of the engine. You can send alot of gas past the rings also. Poor cold starts. 100,000 miles if you are lucky on a motor. The EFI is very simple if you sit down with that book I posted read it. Its a very interesting book. I love my EFI. I have some cars with carbs, and if $ permitteed would put EFI on them. Good luck.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Dont try to blame a carb on only getting a 100k out of engine. Datsuns (since you are talking in the day) and toyotas got 200k regularly with a carbed engine. Factor in high performance and high RPM and I might buy it. But dont scare the guy that his engine is only going to last 100k. Especially with the synthetic oils.
