Hi would it be easy to put a carb 350 in a 1988 vet?

 

Yes.

 

But why ?

 

80 or so hp on a Saturday afternoon weekend at worst for 500 bucks maybe?

 

Yes.

 

What ECM or other functions does one lose with such a modification, if any?

 

You'll have to use a vacuum advance distributor. The dash will work except fot the mpg feature. If you are a manual, it's easier. With an auto, you'll have to get an aftermarket converter lockup setup or put a switch on the console. My ecm was in a cabinet when I carbed my 84.

 

Thanks.

 

 

So, when replacing TPI with carb you no longer also need O2 sensor nor injector harness? These I reckon are just rolled and taped away, yes? Anything else to consider?

Does ECM show any fault codes after this?

 

Ya know.. I've never checked to see if the O2 sensor is still there.. I'll check later.

Roll and tape the wires and tuck them away.

DO NOT.. I repeat.. DO NOT CUT THEM OFF!!!!

If you ever decide to sell your car, the next owner will appreciate it!

The PO of my car thought it would be a good idea to just hack the wires off.. Problem is, he hacked too many.. Air conditioning, injectors and WIPER MOTOR wires!!

See that empty 'connector' behind that mess on the wiper motor?

What the heck was he thinking? I just can't imagine..

BTW. I never noticed this until I got it home. It was tucked down behind the harness.

Doesn't affect the way it runs and drives though. And no codes either..

 

Man, talk about "no looking back" approach.

Do you think mpg will drop a lot with, say, dualplane and 600 vac carb compared to TPI?

 

If you go to carb I also suggest:

1. Removing the alternator and going to a 6 volt generator with an electromechanical voltage regulator
2. Install a crank start (drilling the hole through the radiator is tricky)
3. Remove power steering pump and go with Armstrong Steering.
4. Fab up a manual drum brake system to replace power disks
5. Ditch power windows and go with cranks
6. Replace electric windshield wipers with a vacuum system
7. Find a tranny with unsynchronized straight cut gears (I suggest a 3 speed)
8. Revert to an AM only radio
9. Reengineer an oil bath type air cleaner to fit under hood
10. Ditch the oil filter system (the first SBC engines didn't use them)



There are a few more things, but that would get you well on your way.

 

A WASTE OF A FINE EFI SYSTEM IN ORDER TO TAKE A STEP BACKWARD IN TECHNOLOGY. WHAT'S THE POINT?

RACE ON!!!

 

14's with hubcaps?

 

Yea, G78x14" bais ply would fit right in. Then the hubcaps

 

Bought mine the way it is, and considering I'd have to replace the harness, it's not in the cards right now to switch back.

And not even sure I want to.

 

Gee, thanks.

 

If you do not have emissions and want a weekend fun car and old enough to be familiar with old hot rods and what they can and can not do but want a quick 50 to 80 hp it makes sense to me. A Holley 3310 780 vac secondary and ZZ4 type manifold is well under 1k and probably under 750. The stock fuel pump at 6 psi will support more power than the rear end will take. I never believe the range and mpg display they are a joke at best. If I put on a ZZ4 intake and carb along with a set of headers and cam easily found used I will pick up 100 hp and not lose any torque probably gain some up spend around a grand give me a budget of that with efi and dyno time would be double or triple. I am an EFI guy for 25 years but when there is a budget there are trades. At the end of the day if these really are 7 to 9k cars putting 35% of their value into them for that gain has to be thought about a bit in my mind. A lot of times simplify is the answer and a budget to suit the ride as long as the fun factor is met. With the money saved can do the interior weather strips get it detailed and more..
Dave