Anyone want to talk me out of going carbed?

[90mustangGT]

I am really thinking of swapping to a carb setup after knowing what I will have to do to feed the new setup, staying EFI is going to be big $$$. My current EFI setup is:

Moroso CAI
C&L 76mm MAF with tube
Accufab 70mm TB and EGR spacer
Edelbrock Performer Intake Manifold
FMS 24# injectors
Kirban adjustable fuel pressure regulator
Holley 255lph fuel pump.

I'm building a 347, strip/street. Real agressive cam. Not daily driven, not winter driven, just a weekend fun car, weekend warrior setup.

To really feed this I'll need bigger everything pretty much. I was thinking at least:

AFM powerpipe w/80mm MAF calabrated to the needed 30# injectors.
TFS R, Holley Systemax II, Edelbrock RPM II, Victor 5.0 intakes.
Larger TB.
EFI tuning equipment.
more than that, but the point is that it will be a bundle.

So, Im thinking of just going with a carbed setup, real simple like this:

Speed/Mighty Demon 750
Edelbrock Victor Jr.
K&N air filter setup
Holley blue or other electric carb fuel pump.
Different AFPR.

I could probally break even by selling the EFI parts I have now.

So any reason not to swap?

 

[slow93]

i think you should swap it.oh yeah and sell me your injectors

 

[denny davis]

if your weekend driving then i would stay injected, i feel and this is only my opinion but i feel injected is more fun to drive because of the throttle response at all rpm ranges.

 

[QDRHRSE]

It's a bad idea but for the right price I might want the intake.....

You're sacraficing tq for the sake of hp. The computer rocks!

 

[89white50]

 

[emagdnim]

For some reason carbed setups dont get me excited like a nice high powered EFI setup does. To each there own though.

 

[Daggar]

I got dibbs on the TB, spacer, FPR, and pump.

Oh yeah... don't do the swap. (almost forgot that part)

 

[90mustangGT]

Sorry, not being convinced to well. I'd like to hear the opinion of a few carbed guys first. Most of them seem happy, except the ones that do it to their daily drivers.

Simplisity of a carb setup is what has me going towards the cab. I taked to Rick 91GT about it, he's a big fan of EFI but said for my application that a carb would be a way to go. I know EFI, I am a technician working on OBDII EFI cars all day long. I know the demands will be by far out of the range of the A9L EEC-IV computer. The only other way I would go would be stand alone, which is pricy.

I think another reason I want to go carb is I don't know them too well, but can/will/want to learn them. I know people who know them well too, so it won't be an issue.

Thanks for the replies. If I decide to swap, you guys that replied and called dib I will PM you first.

 

[90mustangGT]

For some reason carbed setups dont get me excited like a nice high powered EFI setup does. To each there own though.

I think that has everything to do with the fact that many people think that you can't make real power with EFI, and the money it takes to make EFI run well.

if your weekend driving then i would stay injected, i feel and this is only my opinion but i feel injected is more fun to drive because of the throttle response at all rpm ranges.

Throttle responce in a carbed engine is usually much better than EFI.

You're sacraficing tq for the sake of hp. The computer rocks!

Well, it's all in the build. I originally had a stock shortblock with thumper E7's on top, and it used to be my dialy driver. The car will be much lighter now, not a D/D, along with more cubes/compression.
Yeah, the computer is king until you get real agressive and go outside it's parameters. Yes it will still work, but not as well as it could, so you can either play with a piggyback device, but most end up going with a stand alone unit, this is big money.

 

[bluevenom867]

Do the carb.

Its so easy to tune and install,and much simpler if you ever do have a problem (which is seriously reduced because of the lack of electronics).

IMO,its also nicer looking.Less engine bay cluter,which also means less wieght up front.

 

[bluevenom867]

You're sacraficing tq for the sake of hp. The computer rocks!

Thats not exaclty true...

 

[87NOTCH]

I run a carbed set-up, and for my application it works (Race only) This has been a debate with mustang owners since the late eighties. It sounds like you have already made up your mind. If the only reason you are switching is the money, you may want to re-think it. If Ford ever got anything right it was their Feul Injection System. It will cost you way more to switch to a carb set-up.

Heres my point. Your vehicle is already set-up for fuel injection. i.e. wiring, computer, distributor, ignition etc... Your car will run fine with the Throttle Body, Mass Air, and injectors you already have. Even if you want to increase these parts, you are looking at less than $1000 for all of it. T-Body $189.00, Mass Air is about $300, and about $500 for new injectors that you probably won't need, and you already have plenty of fuel pump.

My advise, from a carb guy. Stay injected.

 

[SQUEEZE&STROKE]

I just recently converted to a carb on my car as well. Runs hard and pulls like a mofo. But, Like mentioned before...if you are just going to do it for money dont do it. I'll break down my cost for you...
Holley blue fuel pump-$120
Fuel pickup to use stock tank-$115
Aeromotive FPR-$150
All fuel lines and fittings with inline fuel filter-$350 (not steel braided, it would be about double if used steel braided)
750 HP carb-$450
Vic Jr manifold-$250
Wiring to make stock gauges work~$150
MSD Dizzy-$220
msd coil-$50
Correct throttle linkage/cable-$75-$100

As you can see it is probably cheaper to stay with fuel injection. I just wanted the simplicity of the carb so that was my choice. In all, my cost was about-$1900 give or take a few hundred bucks. I get a discount at my local parts shop so for my same setup it might cost you more. Hope this helps.

 

[Killer50stang]

I am really thinking of swapping to a carb setup after knowing what I will have to do to feed the new setup, staying EFI is going to be big $$$. My current EFI setup is:

Moroso CAI
C&L 76mm MAF with tube
Accufab 70mm TB and EGR spacer
Edelbrock Performer Intake Manifold
FMS 24# injectors
Kirban adjustable fuel pressure regulator
Holley 255lph fuel pump.

I'm building a 347, strip/street. Real agressive cam. Not daily driven, not winter driven, just a weekend fun car, weekend warrior setup.

To really feed this I'll need bigger everything pretty much. I was thinking at least:

AFM powerpipe w/80mm MAF calabrated to the needed 30# injectors.
TFS R, Holley Systemax II, Edelbrock RPM II, Victor 5.0 intakes.
Larger TB.
EFI tuning equipment.
more than that, but the point is that it will be a bundle.

So, Im thinking of just going with a carbed setup, real simple like this:

Speed/Mighty Demon 750
Edelbrock Victor Jr.
K&N air filter setup
Holley blue or other electric carb fuel pump.
Different AFPR.

I could probally break even by selling the EFI parts I have now.

So any reason not to swap?

Do this and you'll have no regrets. I did it and it was the smartest thing I ever did. I went from less than 250 hp to what you see in my sig for less than $3,000. Carb is better and easier to work on. Good luck!

 

[Killer50stang]

I just recently converted to a carb on my car as well. Runs hard and pulls like a mofo. But, Like mentioned before...if you are just going to do it for money dont do it. I'll break down my cost for you...
Holley blue fuel pump-$120
Fuel pickup to use stock tank-$115
Aeromotive FPR-$150
All fuel lines and fittings with inline fuel filter-$350 (not steel braided, it would be about double if used steel braided)
750 HP carb-$450
Vic Jr manifold-$250
Wiring to make stock gauges work~$150
MSD Dizzy-$220
msd coil-$50
Correct throttle linkage/cable-$75-$100

As you can see it is probably cheaper to stay with fuel injection. I just wanted the simplicity of the carb so that was my choice. In all, my cost was about-$1900 give or take a few hundred bucks. I get a discount at my local parts shop so for my same setup it might cost you more. Hope this helps.

I didn't use alot of what you did. I used the stock lines and saved some $$. Mine came out perfect.

 

[jackchan]

go ahead and convert.........you'll more than likely wised you hadn't! Tuning is ok with carb.....but the EFI does a lot on its own that people take for granted!


how much for the EFI computer?
thanks
Jack

 

[rd]

Having two carbed 5.0's, I would go or stay efi, especially if I wanted to drive it regularly. I want to switch over soon. My efi 2.3 notch has convinced me.

If I had started with an efi car, I would have changed all the normal stuff, such as injectors, intake, MAF, etc. And while it costs money, so does switching to and upgrading carbed stuff. After you get into upgraded stuff, both systems cost money. Bigger carb, totally new fuel lines, intake, etc.

With efi, fuel system upgrades are easier, just a bigger pump, and nitrous and blower installations are much easier. I like the abiltity to read the engine with a scanner, etc, and tune with an oxygen sensor. I would love to have a laptop tunable setup! It seems like it would be much easier to know what is going on and whether you are making improvements, etc, than with a carb. Its hard to beat the efi 5.0 stuff and even harder to beat the 4.6 stuff thats out there now.

 

[SQUEEZE&STROKE]

I like the abiltity to read the engine with a scanner, etc, and tune with an oxygen sensor. I would love to have a laptop tunable setup! It seems like it would be much easier to know what is going on and whether you are making improvements, etc, than with a carb.

My thoughts exactly...thats why my Carbed car has two O2 sensors and a wideband so I can tune it that way as well.

 

[crazypete]

I've been running full street carbed in new england for 3 years now. This isnt a garage queen either. Rain, snow, season changes, trips, everything.

The carb setup is a pain but you basically do it once and then adjust the idle screws when the seasons change.

When your carbed car breaks down, you wiggle some levers and get back on the road in 10 minutes. When your efi breaks down, you get it towed home and start a weeklong debug process.

The only drawback to a carb is the warmup. You cant do anything fancy for 2-3 minutes after you start it though I have never found this to be any knid of problem at all.

Lemme know if you need any help during your swap.

 

[srothfuss]

...When your carbed car breaks down, you wiggle some levers and get back on the road in 10 minutes...

I will agree with crazypete on this. On my past two build-ups (87-Fbody / 90 GT) I ran carbs. Both cars were driven year round since I was still in highschool at the time and both were very easy to work on. To re-check your rockers, you wouldn't have to pull the upper intake off. Or you won't have to worry about a ticking fuel injector sounding like a ticking rocker arm. Switching to a carb is the best choice in many cases. As long as you don't plan on switching back to EFI, than you should go ahead and do it.

Your car will have the same amount of power as an EFi car...