Astro Carb?

[ClearHooter]

Is there a change over or an after market carb and manifold for the Chevy Astro's V6 motor that isn't computer controled? While we're at it is there any type of conventional distributor that could be used? Object here is to eliminate computers from the vehicle. ......I'm one of those die-hards that think a computer is best used at home from a desk-top. We're talking things like: acquisition, function, milage, emissions, dependability and costs here. Not law.

[drew300]

I remember the old days too, when you could easily tinker with an engine.
Why do you think the companies went to all this stuff? Just to add cost?
I remember back in the early '70s, before cat-converters, trying to meet emmissions. They did. Mainly because the vehicles won't run, and when they did, they stalled a lot. And the family car got 10 or 12 mpg.
Computers are a cheap way to meet emissions and get some power and drivability.
Remember the big news when corvettes and the like got 1 hp per cube? It's pretty easy to pass that these days, even with less octane in the gas.
My '97 astro, V6, has about 50 hp more than my '81 V8 van. The old van had troubles with stumbling to get off idle, some hesitation on the highway, terrible hot starts, and got about 14 mpg if you drove it very nicely. It did meet emission spec.
As much as I like the KISS method (keep it simple stupid), computers do make for a good running, cheap system. If you don't think it's cheap, try to invision a mechanicle system to do do what the computers do several thousand times a second.

[ClearHooter]

They do work great.....as long as they work. But when that ECU or EI goes out, without warning, in the middle of Bum_ucked Tenn, in the middle of a cold, rainy, night; your hoofing it. No matter what tools your carrying. That point system, if I've got a screw driver, I can get it cranked if there's a spark going to a $12.00 coil. The conventional stuff usually gives a warning before giving up the ghost. They can also be replaced or rebuilt at a fraction of the cost.

I take it....No you don't know of any conversions nor reccommend them.

[drew300]

I agree on that reliability - My car worked great, no hint of a problem, then it lost it's spark. Breaker points do give warnings. A bad choke would usually get you home.
if you had a mechanical system good enough for todays' needs, you couldn't take a screwdriver to that either.

[ClearHooter]

Back in the late '80's I recall seeing a cartoon of a guy standing by what looked to be a Supra. He had the hood up scratching his head. There was a huge plate bolted down over the engine compartment with like a hundred bolts. The lettering on the plate read "NO OWNER SERVICABLE PARTS UNDER THE HOOD." I see these guys at the car shows with Holley carbs. Do they all have driveability problems? Granted they most all use EI's. I know its contrived to keep people from working on their own vehicles. Eventually, down the road, if an alternative isn't found, it will be so only the richest will drive. Unlike most countries the USA is open to travel. Unlike most countries we have very little mass transit. We'd have to be forced to use it even if we did have it! This is what is happening now. Its just there is no alternative for most, yet.