Anybody running carb setup in C5's?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 177
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From: Tampa FL
Anybody running carb setup in C5's?
I have been out of the C5 scene since I had my '08 for a while and now my '06 Viper, but I have finally got my C5 back together. It has a cam, longtubes, exhaust, clutch, flywheel, ARP rod bolts, ARP head bolts, etc. Unfortunately, the engine I installed with these mods turned out to have an Ls1 intake instead of an Ls6 like I thought since the engine was advertised as a 2003 C5 engine. No big deal, but I am weighing my options and was wondering how many have installed carb setups? I know they make more power than many of the fuel injected intakes and this is more of a play car so I was contemplating the switch. How do we get around the drive-by-wire with a carb setup? Any ideas?
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,843
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From: Howell Michigan
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
No big deal, but I am weighing my options and was wondering how many have installed carb setups? I know they make more power than many of the fuel injected intakes and this is more of a play car so I was contemplating the switch. How do we get around the drive-by-wire with a carb setup? Any ideas?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 6,993
Likes: 25
I have been out of the C5 scene since I had my '08 for a while and now my '06 Viper, but I have finally got my C5 back together. It has a cam, longtubes, exhaust, clutch, flywheel, ARP rod bolts, ARP head bolts, etc. Unfortunately, the engine I installed with these mods turned out to have an Ls1 intake instead of an Ls6 like I thought since the engine was advertised as a 2003 C5 engine. No big deal, but I am weighing my options and was wondering how many have installed carb setups? I know they make more power than many of the fuel injected intakes and this is more of a play car so I was contemplating the switch. How do we get around the drive-by-wire with a carb setup? Any ideas?
If your going carb, you going to have to gut most of the electronics anyway. You'll have to run a THROTTLE CABLE-
Still seems like a waste of time to go carb.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
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From: Western NY
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 177
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From: Tampa FL
Well I would run one of the supercharger or cowl hoods which I plan to do anyway. My info is based on an article that was in GMHTP a year or two ago. They gained over 40 hp by switching from an Ls1 intake to an Edelbrock carb intake on a bone stock Ls1. They didnt compare to an Ls6 intake, but I think you would still be looking at a 25+ hp gain. They did a few comparisons with different cams etc. Also, I wondered if these manifolds didnt make big power, why would so many big power makers switch to them and still run a fuel rail and elbow with a throttle body? Another benefit is it only costs ~$75 (last time I checked) for a dyno tune around here if you have a carb. I will have to find the article again because I can see the hostilities my question is brewing in some. 
Once again, I am only weighing my options and want to hear others experiences and opinions. Just looking for some healthy debate.
Once again, I am only weighing my options and want to hear others experiences and opinions. Just looking for some healthy debate.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 177
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From: Tampa FL
About the throttle cable issue...My main question is to see if someone has developed a way to run the electric motor and drive-by-wire with the carb setup. If I did go down the carb path (very BIG if), I dont plan on doing anything that would prevent me from returning the car to fuel injected if I wanted to. I would want to retain the stock pedal assy and just neatly tuck the underhood wiring near the battery box or something.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,891
Likes: 4
From: North Port Fl
I'm not trying to knock you or your Idea, but if carbs made more HP and were cheaper don't you think the manufactures would still be using them. I own a C5 and a C3 and when I visit the C3 forums there are guys that still swear by ignition systems that use points and they actually believe they are more reliable. I see no advantage other than It might be cheaper to going back to a technology that most car makers abandoned about 40 years ago. I think you would be better off installing a Fast 90 intake and throttle body.
I don't believe everything I read, as I have found that through a little manipulation you can get the results you want and make it look official. Look at products of the past like Slick 50, Dura Lube, and that sheet metal thing (I think its called a tornado) that you are supposed to put in your intake to give you better gas mileage.
I don't believe everything I read, as I have found that through a little manipulation you can get the results you want and make it look official. Look at products of the past like Slick 50, Dura Lube, and that sheet metal thing (I think its called a tornado) that you are supposed to put in your intake to give you better gas mileage.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,062
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From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
The biggest problem with carbs is the wet air flow through the manifold. Despite a lot of design work to get proper fuel mixture to all of the cylinders nobody ever really achieved it. With port fuel injection the air flow is dry and they don't have to worry about the fuel dropping out of the mixture. Ever wonder why so many carb equipped cars stink like they are running too rich? Then on top of that you get all of the carb problems like leaking seals, etc. Just a total mess.
Bill
Bill
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Michael S. Palmer
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
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From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
I'm not trying to knock you or your Idea, but if carbs made more HP and were cheaper don't you think the manufactures would still be using them. I own a C5 and a C3 and when I visit the C3 forums there are guys that still swear by ignition systems that use points and they actually believe they are more reliable. I see no advantage other than It might be cheaper to going back to a technology that most car makers abandoned about 40 years ago. I think you would be better off installing a Fast 90 intake and throttle body.
I don't believe everything I read, as I have found that through a little manipulation you can get the results you want and make it look official. Look at products of the past like Slick 50, Dura Lube, and that sheet metal thing (I think its called a tornado) that you are supposed to put in your intake to give you better gas mileage.
I don't believe everything I read, as I have found that through a little manipulation you can get the results you want and make it look official. Look at products of the past like Slick 50, Dura Lube, and that sheet metal thing (I think its called a tornado) that you are supposed to put in your intake to give you better gas mileage.
You can modify your fuel injection system enough to suppoet 1000 HP. How in the hell can you out carb that??? The fuel injection is WAY more precise in fuel metering and has a whole lot more adjustability in WOT Air/Fuel adjustment than a carb ever thought of.
Unless you just building an insane car for the track and dont drive it on the street, you will NEVER EVER EVER pass any sort of emissions test with a carb set up. Even if they dont look under the hood.
My 2.5 cents.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 391
Likes: 1
From: Enterprise Al
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,493
Likes: 1,178
From: Dyer, IN
I have been out of the C5 scene since I had my '08 for a while and now my '06 Viper, but I have finally got my C5 back together. It has a cam, longtubes, exhaust, clutch, flywheel, ARP rod bolts, ARP head bolts, etc. Unfortunately, the engine I installed with these mods turned out to have an Ls1 intake instead of an Ls6 like I thought since the engine was advertised as a 2003 C5 engine. No big deal, but I am weighing my options and was wondering how many have installed carb setups? I know they make more power than many of the fuel injected intakes and this is more of a play car so I was contemplating the switch. How do we get around the drive-by-wire with a carb setup? Any ideas?
1) Replace 60" DLP with 19" black and white t.v.
2) Replace cordless phone with rotary wall mount(and 25 foot cord)
3) Start writing checks again for bills
4) Replace laser printer with dot matix
5) Replace fuel injection in vette with a 750 Holley double pumper !
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 841
Likes: 0
From: Gettysburg PA
Changing my fuel injection to carb in my C5 is 5th on my to do list for this Summer:
1) Replace 60" DLP with 19" black and white t.v.
2) Replace cordless phone with rotary wall mount(and 25 foot cord)
3) Start writing checks again for bills
4) Replace laser printer with dot matix
5) Replace fuel injection in vette with a 750 Holley double pumper !
1) Replace 60" DLP with 19" black and white t.v.
2) Replace cordless phone with rotary wall mount(and 25 foot cord)
3) Start writing checks again for bills
4) Replace laser printer with dot matix
5) Replace fuel injection in vette with a 750 Holley double pumper !
Racer
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 388
Likes: 1
From: Louisville Ky
It's actually really easy to pass a sniffer test with a carburetor, I used to do it all the time. The fun part was pulling out of the test and re-adjusting right in front of them.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 410
Likes: 0
From: Boise Idaho
Well I would run one of the supercharger or cowl hoods which I plan to do anyway. My info is based on an article that was in GMHTP a year or two ago. They gained over 40 hp by switching from an Ls1 intake to an Edelbrock carb intake on a bone stock Ls1. They didnt compare to an Ls6 intake, but I think you would still be looking at a 25+ hp gain. They did a few comparisons with different cams etc. Also, I wondered if these manifolds didnt make big power, why would so many big power makers switch to them and still run a fuel rail and elbow with a throttle body? Another benefit is it only costs ~$75 (last time I checked) for a dyno tune around here if you have a carb. I will have to find the article again because I can see the hostilities my question is brewing in some.
No way you would make more power over EFI (with a compeitant tuner) with a carb.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,158
Likes: 6
From: Winter Springs Fla
Another con would be heat soak with an aluminum manifold .
I read the same article the op did and it was proven to make more WOT power but 10 minutes in stop and go traffic would instantly negate any hp gains .
2 years ago it was kool , today its just not worth the headaches for such little gain.
Ide like to see a carbon fiber victor jr with injector and nitrous inlets
Legal Notice: Anyone that makes a "carbon fiber victor jr with injector and nitrous inlets" OWES ME ONE !
I read the same article the op did and it was proven to make more WOT power but 10 minutes in stop and go traffic would instantly negate any hp gains .
2 years ago it was kool , today its just not worth the headaches for such little gain.
Ide like to see a carbon fiber victor jr with injector and nitrous inlets
Legal Notice: Anyone that makes a "carbon fiber victor jr with injector and nitrous inlets" OWES ME ONE !
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 177
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From: Tampa FL
Alright guys, I'm not a big carb buff but I'm gonna play the devils advocate here.
I'm not arguing that fuel injection isn't more efficient, IT IS MORE EFFICIENT. But the Edelbrock carb manifold is a well designed manifold. It seems to flow better than many (not all) of the fuel injected manifolds. If you think that you cant make power with a carb setup or that carbs are ancient and useless, please check the F-body forums before you say something that makes you look uninformed on the matter. It's easy for someone to sit back and go, carbs are old and inadequate, I hear the same argument about my C5 from my friends but hey, I'm still modding it. Carb setups on the F-bodys are fairly easy to tune compared to the fuel injected setups and make comparable power for much less money than a complete upgraded fuel injection setup. I am simply asking about the feasibility. All this said, I think I'm sticking with the fuel injection...but I know I'm gonna spend some money here soon upgrading the intake, TB, MAF, injectors, etc.
And about not believing everything you read, you're right, I don't believe a word you wrote. j/k
Here is a thread about the manifold in question but using a fuel injected setup on the manifold instead of a carb:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-f...and-elbow.html
I'm not arguing that fuel injection isn't more efficient, IT IS MORE EFFICIENT. But the Edelbrock carb manifold is a well designed manifold. It seems to flow better than many (not all) of the fuel injected manifolds. If you think that you cant make power with a carb setup or that carbs are ancient and useless, please check the F-body forums before you say something that makes you look uninformed on the matter. It's easy for someone to sit back and go, carbs are old and inadequate, I hear the same argument about my C5 from my friends but hey, I'm still modding it. Carb setups on the F-bodys are fairly easy to tune compared to the fuel injected setups and make comparable power for much less money than a complete upgraded fuel injection setup. I am simply asking about the feasibility. All this said, I think I'm sticking with the fuel injection...but I know I'm gonna spend some money here soon upgrading the intake, TB, MAF, injectors, etc.
And about not believing everything you read, you're right, I don't believe a word you wrote.
j/kHere is a thread about the manifold in question but using a fuel injected setup on the manifold instead of a carb:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-f...and-elbow.html
Last edited by TurboLs1; Apr 21, 2009 at 01:19 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,209
Likes: 33
From: Texas-out west
tuned right a carb can do as well or better than fi. fi is better due to easy starting under all conditions etc. if fi was better the pro wouldn't run carbs at nascar, nhra on boats etc. the bottom line is to each his own....oh, manufacturers went to fi, electronics for better control of emissions and fuel mileage controled by computer, not because they make more hp.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,158
Likes: 6
From: Winter Springs Fla
Legal Notice: Anyone that makes a "carbon fiber victor jr with injector and nitrous inlets" OWES ME ONE !
Oh yea , and i want a carbon fiber low profile elbow ! !