Fuel Injected vs. Carbed engine

I was just curious what a Fuel Injected engine had over a Carbureted and the other way around. I personally have a Carbed in my 84 and am recently having to have the carburetor rebuilt.

fuel injection runs cleaner and smoother. i feel that you can make more power on a carb setup, plus no god-foresaken computers on carburetted engines

yeah, the major argument for fuel injection is lower emmisions, better gas milage, smoother operation, and better overall engine controls. carbs can be argued to make more power, but its really all airflow, and fuel metering. i personally think that a properly tuned fuel injectionsystem will make more power than a carb system, but thats just me. the plus for a carb setup is simplicity. fuel injection systems tend to be very complex, so you have to do alot of research, and have specialty tools to work on them, while anyone with a screwdriver a few wrenches and a socket set can work on a carb.

Well in the early/mid 80's the carb on the camaros and I assume other vehicles where "computer controlled" As far as power, I made more power with my holley 670cfm TBI unit than I did with a 700cfm carb on my 383, so the TBI makes more power per cfm than a carb does. But as for TPI I don't really know how to compair them.

you cant, TPI is just that much better ;)

uh huh :thefinger lol

lmao, thats an interesting smile icon, how you do it????

1992RS, that holley TBI, is it a simple remove the old and put the new one in its place type install, cuz i'm about to get one once this tax check arrives?

As far as I know. A carb that is properly setup will give you more power than any fuel injection system. A carb will atomize fuel better than any high flowing injector. But a Fuel injection system will give you more consistant power. Fuel injection adjusts for temp Barometric pressures and other stuff. A carb will not.

I have a 82 Z28 with a carb and a 350 and a 95 Z28 and the throttle responce on the 95 just feels so much more crisper and smoother. The 82 runs smooth but dosn't have the instant responce like the fuel injection does. But I would rather work on the 82 any day of the week over the 95.

yeah, the same difference for the port fuel injection and even TBI as far as throttle responce is crazy. the first time i drove the IROC it scared me.

Fuel injection will make more power, no question about it. This is especially true on a forced induction setup where EFI gives you a much finer ability to adjust fuel, instead of just swapping jets. Not to say carbs can't make power, I've built some blow-thru carb setups that made a ton of power, but if you have the dough, efi is the way to go.

I'm a die hard carb fan so I'm a little biased on the subject, but here are a couple of quotes I found on carcrafts site:

"Steve Johnson, BG Products: EFI makes more power, but our EFI system costs $2,400, compared to $400-450 for our Speed Demon carburetor. You only gain about 10 hp at the peak, so for a lot of guys it isn’t worth the money."

"Warren Johnson: Properly tuned, carburetors make more peak power than EFI in a Pro Stock engine. A carb’s pressure differential atomizes the gas a lot better than spraying fuel through an orifice. But EFI has a broader powerband and superior cylinder-to-cylinder fuel distribution. The 1,100- to 1,300-cfm dual carbs are good only over a narrow range, about 1,500 rpm at most. EFI performs well over 2,000 rpm or more. On average, if optimized, both systems perform about the same as far as how fast you get down the track. However, the EFI system is much easier to tune than a carburetor."

No doubt fuel ingection systems are superior, first of all gives higher fuel pressure and much more air, what means power, just to compare a carbed Camaro can produce 190+ hp, an Iroc-235+ hp, fuel economy is important too and better pesponse provided by those 9 sensors.Of course the carbs are simple and easy to work on, but it is old and should not be used any more. Furthermore, TPI is conciderably old too and by todays standarts simple as well. Also there is a plenty of perfomance parts out there for fuel ingection cars. That is why carbed cars are no longer produced

yeah, TPI is old by todays standards. but hey, the IROC had two crossed plug wires, a bad O2 sensor, now looks like it had NEVER had an induction sevice in 150,000 miles, and STILL got a best of 26mpg on the way home. 1100 miles. at 70-80mph averaging 23mpg. my 305 TBI RS camaro has done a best of 23mpg and usually gets only 19-20mpg. and the IROC has 0.7L more displacement. so i think that says leaps and bounds about fuel injection progress. and the modern Z06, 405hp, 5.7L and 30+mpg. progress is a good thing :)

genospsyde, it's a direct bolt on plug in replacement.

personally i hate carburators with a passion, after driving many carburated cars, you start to envy the bastards with fuel injection. The biggest problem with carburators is the choke, electric chokes are usually a little more reliable in my opinion, but still require adjustment every now and then, but the thermal chokes are a peice of crap. You can adjust a thermal choke so your engine starts and runs great in the summer, but chances are it's not gonna work so great in the winter. If you have a properly tuned carb with a good accelerator pump it'l run great and have nice response..once it's warmed up. My latest project is converting my 71 to fuel injection, i bought a parts car with EFI and yanked the wiring harness, heads, intake and just about everything in between, and i'm in the process of retrofitting. I'm not sure it'll have quite as much power as my Q-jet did, but i'd trade a few ponies anyday for the drivability of EFI. But there's always mods down the road like bigger throttle body, ignition etc. Once you get a grasp for how fuel injection works, it's not that hard to service.

Ok I know this is the age old question... should I just get a 350 TPI or a LT1 both come complete with all hardware and ECM and shit.

With the opti spark stuff what can be done to correct it..I'm looking to just having it stock for a bit... when I get some more cash putting a turbo on it for shits and giggles but you guys scaring with the LT1 stuff

carbs are easier to work on, but u could spen hours tunning the carb to your specific standards, but that is like anything..carbs can really suck in the cold weather with sticky choke, or sumtimes ur choke will automtaicly kick donw and u stall, but i perfer the carb for simplicity and the ability to tune to my specs, and if i want swap it out for more power etc etc etc

lol, sorry to scare ya vlad, i mean the LT1 is a good engine, overall there are lots of benifits that the TPI engine wont have, reverse flow cooling for instance. however, it is just my personal misgivings about the optispark that makes me wary of it. but im sure it would be a fine option. but personaly, i would say go with the TPI engine. again, just my personal take.

damn you Iroc you got me second guessing myself now....

Here in about a month I was going to have the LT1 shipped to me buuut nnnooooooooo Iroc says blah blah bad optispark blah blah.....

Ok what you say TPI why?
what are the beni's of the TPI for you

well in all honesty, i know more about the TPI than the LT1, and human nature dictates that you fear that which you dont understand right???? but for me, im looking at the TPI because im lazy, its already there, and i dont have to custom mount, rig, wire, or make anything. also, i like the long runners of the intake, to give the 302 im building some torque, seeing as the 302 isnt realy known for it. they are very good at taking modifications, combine great throttle responce, power, and fuel economy. and just looks cool :) i also like the old school layout of the engine, with the traditional engine, with a fuel injection intake. rather than all the revolutionary steps forward of the LT1, just lots of stuff to go wrong to me. the TPI is bulletproof, and tried and true, so i like it. but for all i know, the LT1 is a better engine, like i said its just that optispark for performance that scares me. why not go with an LS1???? its better than both. :)

damn you Iroc you got me second guessing myself now....

Here in about a month I was going to have the LT1 shipped to me buuut nnnooooooooo Iroc says blah blah bad optispark blah blah.....

People forget that the optispark is quite an amazing instrument for how it helps to manage EFI. Although I know too well that its in a bad spot for leaks cause mine has been soaked with oil for two summers now - but to its credit its been a tank.

Whether it goes or not, I've been eyeing a DynaSpark replacement from DTE for when the stroker gets put2gether in a few years (hopefully she lasts until then!). But I've decided to have that bastard leak fixed this spring and go ahead with a rebuild just to replace all the seals, rings, gaskets, etc... maybe throw in a bigger cam to go with the ported heads I just picked up?

http://www.dynotech-eng.com/dynaspark.htm

As for the carb vs. EFI discussion, I'll tell you a funny encounter I had with an older dude and his LS1 Vette. He pulls into this car show with aftermarket rims as the only noticeable mod to his C5 (from what I could see AND hear). We start yapping and I'm surprised to learn this dude is running a .590 lift cam with a ton of other mods to his Vette. I asked him to start up his car for me so I could listen.

The car idled as smooth as a Caddy and rev'd so gracefully. I couldn't believe it. I told him how my car friggin shakes at idle and sounds like an illegal hot rod (cam is only giving me .525 max lift).

Thats when the guy starts telling me all about the LS1's EFI setup with its single coil ignition packs and the reverse firing order. I was so impressed (never really knew this stuff before) and thought how brutish and "old" my LT1 was compared to his sicko yet oh so smooth LS1.

Then just as we're parting ways he goes "But I just wish I could throw a carburator on this motor" :smokin: :grinno: and I'm like why? Well this dude (whose been racing for decades now right) seemed to think his car would be so much faster and better with a carb setup, and closed by saying the only thing he didn't like about his car was the fact that a carb wouldn't fit under the hood.

Very strange encounter I thought some might find interesting...

yeah, goes to show, cant teach an old dog new tricks ;)

Ok I know this is the age old question... should I just get a 350 TPI or a LT1 both come complete with all hardware and ECM and shit.
Use care when talking LT1. There is more then one LT1 out there. I just got done doing one for a buddy. The motor rebuild ALONE was to the tune of $1500. The only (upgrade) was a mild cam. Other then that is was just a rebuild :screwy: And no he was not taken for a ride on that price. Thats just how damn much it cost to do it with the CORRECT parts at a worth while shop. :iceslolan
CLICK HERE & LEARN ABOUT THE LT1 (http://www.automotiverebuilder.com/ar/ar99928.htm)

Use care when talking LT1. There is more then one LT1 out there. I just got done doing one for a buddy. The motor rebuild ALONE was to the tune of $1500. The only (upgrade) was a mild cam. Other then that is was just a rebuild :screwy: And no he was not taken for a ride on that price. Thats just how damn much it cost to do it with the CORRECT parts at a worth while shop. :iceslolan
CLICK HERE & LEARN ABOUT THE LT1 (http://www.automotiverebuilder.com/ar/ar99928.htm)I have a 94 Z28 w/ the LT1. I am tossing it in the air whether to change it from fuel injection to carb. As far as the car goes, it has ported and polished aluminum LT1 heads, Port matched Intake, 58mm throttle body, 579/584 lift cam ect.... The car runs strong, but doesnt feel like its running to the full potential. I have been told that I have to take the computer in and have it programmed to run with all the upgrades. I am just trying to figure out if it would be better and cheaper to convert over to a carb. Does anyone have any input or what all is needed to do the conversion. Also the car has a turbo 350 with a shift kit and 3:73 gears and a NOS wet fogger kit adjustable to 250hp.

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