Carb or FI
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 888
Likes: 0
From: Angola IN
CI 5-6-7-8-9 Veteran
Cruise-In 7 Car Show Winner
Carb or FI
I am just starting the initial phase of planning up a drag C4. I want it to be streetable also. I know that there are a few here that have switched back to a non-computer controlled Carb set up. I am leaning this way. Can you give me the pros, and cons of both systems. A while ago (last summer) there was a member that had pictures up of his set up. I kinda like the idea of no puter stuff, just a semi empty bay with just an engine!! Call it retro if you want, but I would like you guys honest opinion. Anyone else like the idea of a cleaned up no frills engine bay?
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 14,165
Likes: 9
I like a clean engine bay but for street driving there is no substitute for fuel injection in terms of all condition driveability and fuel economy.
You can clean up the engine a ton just be ditching all the "extra" parts. You know, AIR pump, EGR, etc, etc.
The worst problem with a carb on a C4 is that I don't think any will clear the stock hood. If you do find a setup that clears the stock hood, it's probably a little less than optimal in the performance department.
It entirely depends on what you want to do. You can usually buy a veyr good carb and intake for less than the cost of a fuel injection intake that will make really good power, but you've got the whole hood problem.
You can clean up the engine a ton just be ditching all the "extra" parts. You know, AIR pump, EGR, etc, etc.
The worst problem with a carb on a C4 is that I don't think any will clear the stock hood. If you do find a setup that clears the stock hood, it's probably a little less than optimal in the performance department.
It entirely depends on what you want to do. You can usually buy a veyr good carb and intake for less than the cost of a fuel injection intake that will make really good power, but you've got the whole hood problem.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,655
Likes: 24
From: Charleston SC
I recomend you keep the TPI but I have done the carb thing. Before my 84 went LT1 I had two bad TB's and was not willing to spend the $$$ to redo the crossfire at the time so I went carb. It will clear the stock hood but you will need a low profile air cleaner. If you have a man. then its not all that bad but an auto will require a bit more work (lock up kit and TV linkage). Again Stay with the TPI if at all posible. 
here is a shot
here is a shot
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
I can't advise staying with the TPI for a race car, but I strongly favor
EFI over a carb. What performance goals do you have? Corky and
Jesse are getting close to the 9's in their drivable EFI cars.
RACE ON!!!
EFI over a carb. What performance goals do you have? Corky and
Jesse are getting close to the 9's in their drivable EFI cars.
RACE ON!!!
Large Impressive Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 65,811
Likes: 71
From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
Originally Posted by FD2BLK
Before my 84 went LT1 I had two bad TB's and was not willing to spend the $$$ to redo the crossfire at the time so I went carb.
Just kidding, it's working fine. g
Originally Posted by Muffin
I don't want to sound biased but I gave away every carb I owned. Wouldn't touch another unless my wife insists on me springing for a 63 vert. 
BTW, I've got a bunch of old carbs I'm going to put on Ebay one of these days too.
Last edited by Corvette Kid; Dec 11, 2004 at 07:35 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
Carb vs EFI
My two cents. Although I haven't worked the numbers(dollars) I wonder what a cost analysis would show. The Superram assembly or anything like it is more expensive than a new manifold and used but rebuilt carb which should be readily avail. on the "street". Pocket the approx. $1,000 allowed for the S"ram(used), plus $250 or so for the chip burning req'd. You're looking at maybe $750 "saved" by the carb route. I don't see any loss in E.T. and if it's a drag car you're not interested in any mpg savings thru EFI. Just another perspective. Anf I just finished a S'Ram set-up.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 13,793
Likes: 0
From: St. Peters MO Sometimes you have to prove yourself by doing alot of killing or alot of dying...
Just to add my 2¢ to the pot... I have to agree with CFI-EFI. Fuel Injection is the way to go!!! You can generate tons of HP out of an EFI set up... and with the computer to control engine efficiency, you will have better throttle response, fuel economy, and streetability too. The downfall is that it costs a ton of $$$ vs the price of a carb set up. EFI is a very technical beast. It takes some work and special programming to get the car to run perfect... but I honestly believe that after you get and EFI car tuned in... there isn't an equivalent carb car that can touch it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 6,130
Likes: 2
From: seattle WA
Here comes the cave man lol, But if it's just for the strip-I would bet on the carb. I don't read the latest mags about all the hoopla, and I know there's some aweful fast EFI out there-but, my tranny guy runs his carb set up in the 8s-and my son-who rebuilt injectors for a living and is building a motor now-says carb! I know my 64 would have ate my 87s lunch-but it was built. Can't remember the name of a mag I was looking at recently-but I did notice all the high HP engines in it for sale were carb setups.But alas-if you're worried about hood clearance-forget it-I don't think many-if any of the high performance carb intake manifolds are going to clear. If this is going to be a daily driver or street machine-then definetly stick with the EFI. Just my 2 cents worth. 
Race Director
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 14,924
Likes: 9
From: Merritt Ils Fl
Originally Posted by kwik_ta
there isn't an equivalent carb car that can touch it.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,952
Likes: 2
From: Little Rock Arkansas
If I could run EFI on the NHRA Super Stocker, I would!! It's very consistent on the track and adjusts itself to weather conditions. But, alas it's not legal for a '66 BBC Vette in S/S... But EVERY other vehicle I drive has it (including my '77 Vette which I'm in the middle of retrofitting right now). I don't care if it's a street car or a race car, EFI makes it better.
-Jeb
-Jeb
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 888
Likes: 0
From: Angola IN
CI 5-6-7-8-9 Veteran
Cruise-In 7 Car Show Winner
Thanks Guys for all the replies. What more than likly will happen is that the engine currently in My 70 will be removed and replaced with a 454 or a 502 this next winter. The engine that's in the now is a sallee chevy option 4 ZZ4 with about 700 miles on it. It dyno'ed with 439 HP and 435 lbs tq with the carb set up, I know the stock tpi would choke it bad!! and didn't know if the other FI units would hurt or help it!! If it won't kill what it has now, I wouldn't mind another grand for the proper FI unit and program, but if it will kill the HP or tq, better off to stay with the carb.
Ideas? opinions welcome.
Thanks again, Frank
Ideas? opinions welcome.
Thanks again, Frank
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
Originally Posted by garandfan
If it won't kill what it has now, I wouldn't mind another grand for the proper FI unit and program, but if it will kill the HP or tq, better off to stay with the carb.
Ideas? opinions welcome.
Thanks again, Frank
Ideas? opinions welcome.
Thanks again, Frank
RACE ON!!!
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 4,532
Likes: 7
From: Lahaina Hi