You guys with carbed set ups, I want to hear more. Was it hard to tune and get everything right? What problems did you encounter with your carb set-up, if any, that you would not have with EFI?
Thanks
Thanks
EFI vs Carb
- Thread starter 95Vert
- Start date
diablostang
New Member
95Vert said:
Currently, I'm running an out of the box-untuned Demon 650. I've had ZERO trouble.. Extremely happy wiht it. I'm planning to get it tuned within the next 2 weeks, busy working out charging issues right now. ...
Like I said, I love how it cleans up the enginebay, is simple to work and there's only so much that can go wrong... No $300 sensors to go bad, and weeks spent putting new sensors on hoping that you found the bad one.. And fuel pumps are CHEAP. I paid $175 for a 280 GPH Barry Grant pump. (It'll handle a good 800HP ) You can find knockoffs for much cheaper as well. And the "injectors" (jets in the carb) are like $4 a set.. So forget paying $300 for a set of injectors and a MAFS to go with them. The only driveability loss between my carb and EFI is that I pump the gas when I start it (not a big deal) and have to keep my foot on the pedal for about 10-20 seconds after start, depending on outside tempurature. This is a non-choked carb though, so those of you with chokes won't necessarily run into that.
But as pretty as I painted the picture, carbureted isn't for every Joe out on the road. Especially if you don't do your own work ( Ford Dealerships would be scratching their heads if you took your carbed Mustang in)
I've never dealt with carbed before, then again, I'm not an expert on EFI either. All these sensors and crap do get annoying after a while. Let's say I'm the Joe you speak of, what would you tell me to keep me away from going carbed? I hardly take my car anywhere. I know this guy, good buddy, who's an expert in carb setups, so he would help me out.
Guess I'm leaning more towards carb. I mean, I haven't heard anything scary to keep me away, everything takes time to learn so there's no big concern there. It's cheaper, less hassle, more user friendly, why not? And if it's easier than working the damn Tweecer, I'll be fine.
95Vert said:
Why waste your time with a tweecer? Go get a tune and be done with it.. Doesnt get any easier then that..
And price out a complete carb setup and see how much it really costs. Dont forget you will need new fuel lines, sump the tank and a pump of course.
It will be cheaper, but not so much cheaper then EFI that i can imagine "that" factor swaying anyone
Anyways its your car.. do with it what you will...
That's why I ask. It may be equally as expensive in the beginning but won't tuning it down the road save time and money? This does seem to be the case to me.
95Vert said:
A tune around here is 500 including the chip... If you keep the setup the same u only really need one tune..
The tuner i goto is real flexible.. for that one price he will spend as much time as it takes to get the power and drivability where it needs to be.. Then if i need a new tune hes always real reasonable
diablostang
New Member
Do you plan to keep modding? If so, tuning costs could be a headache..
And as far as the cost to convert, it can cost some $$ to convert, depending on what you go with. Summit sells stainless-braided line kits for low to mid $200's if I remember correctly, and they have their own knockoff pumps w/regulators for like $130ish..
If you've got a good buddy who doesn't mind setting up your carb for you, you're set to go. I hadn't had experience with carburetors previous to putting mine on, and I haven't TOUCHED it other than like my idle screw, and it runs great. I am gonna get it all setup correctly on the dyno in a few weeks though.
PM me if you have any specific questions I can help with. Definitely check on pricing for the stuff though, you will either need to sump your tank, or get a $70 adaptor from summitt to run to the pump, you'll need a carb pump, fuel filter, braided lines with -AN fittings, regulator, gauge and of course carb + carb intake.. And don't forget a carb-throttle cable. You should be able to sell off some of your current parts, depending on what you have.
And as far as the cost to convert, it can cost some $$ to convert, depending on what you go with. Summit sells stainless-braided line kits for low to mid $200's if I remember correctly, and they have their own knockoff pumps w/regulators for like $130ish..
If you've got a good buddy who doesn't mind setting up your carb for you, you're set to go. I hadn't had experience with carburetors previous to putting mine on, and I haven't TOUCHED it other than like my idle screw, and it runs great. I am gonna get it all setup correctly on the dyno in a few weeks though.
PM me if you have any specific questions I can help with. Definitely check on pricing for the stuff though, you will either need to sump your tank, or get a $70 adaptor from summitt to run to the pump, you'll need a carb pump, fuel filter, braided lines with -AN fittings, regulator, gauge and of course carb + carb intake.. And don't forget a carb-throttle cable. You should be able to sell off some of your current parts, depending on what you have.
diablostang said:
Thanks man. I won't be doing it for about a year but I'll keep you in mind if I bump into anything. Once I hit 500-600 hp, I probably won't mod anymore, but you never know. Another major thing, is that here, where I live, there are no good tuners. So that's another big incentive to do my own tuning and the EFI is complicated.
diablostang
New Member
95Vert said:
Okay, that's cool.
And as far as tuning, I hear ya. I've got several big-dog shops around my area, but really... I hate having to drop my car off and wait for it to be tuned. I had my Lightning tuned my Haywood Custom Speed, and it took him 2 weeks cause he was so cram full.. Since you've already got a buddy who knows carbs, you're set to go.
diablostang said:
Yep, that's the good part. He built a 351 carb and managed to pull off 600hp/tq to the wheels.
Since he did it with that, I'm guessing we shouldn't have a problem with 408/418.
The guy whom he built it for, broke too many trannys, so he decided to sell the motor. My buddy loved the motor so much, that he gave him his 89 mustang(running condition) as an even trade for the motor. 
95Vert said:Yep, that's the good part. He built a 351 carb and managed to pull off 600hp/tq to the wheels.
600rwhp with a n/a 351?
What compression was that running? Heads/Cam?
Low-5.0 said:600rwhp with a n/a 351?
I think he ran like a 13/1 if I'm not mistaken. The truck was an all out race track, and if my mind serves me right, he said 500 not 600hp, my bad. But i'm almost pos. on that comp. ratio.
