Carb converted LT1 question
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 564
From: dallas, tx.
Carb converted LT1 question
I recently bought GM's carb intake for the LT1. I noticed the hole for the distributor is larger than normal. Whats the deal with that and does it now require a special size distributor? i was planning on running a MSD dist. but now im confused. Anyone know anything, please reply. thanx
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 29
From: Grants Pass, OR, USA
Intake Question
I believe the hole in the intake is oversize to allow for positioning
differances. The hole in the block is the one that actually has a close fit to the distributor body. Intakes dont have any features to maintain a precision position, dowell pins etc. Hope this answers the question. I am very curious how the LT1 behaves with a carb.
93 M6 Red 59K
Off road pipe, EGR, TBB, B&M Shifter
differances. The hole in the block is the one that actually has a close fit to the distributor body. Intakes dont have any features to maintain a precision position, dowell pins etc. Hope this answers the question. I am very curious how the LT1 behaves with a carb.
93 M6 Red 59K
Off road pipe, EGR, TBB, B&M Shifter
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 564
From: dallas, tx.
I showed another car guy this intake and the distributor, and he said since it was a loose fit up on top, it would vibrate too much and break the dist. gear. He claims to have seen a special dist. that fits just right, but I disagree with him. I have never heard of such thing. I think the hold down tab will be enough support. I put the dist. in with the intake off and you're right, its a perfect fit. Will that be enough strength to keep it from vibratin to death? I'm a go ahead and try it, cuz I really dont believe theres a "special thicker distributor".
the reason I wont throw me in an old school chevy is cause I wanna keep my 6 speed and expensive *** clutch. dont wanna mess with the torque arm or anything like that. I wanna keep all accersorys ( mainly the A/C) in stock place so everything runs nice and smooth. If I go old school, I would have to rig up the A/C system some and I'm just trying to avoid these things. I'm also curious to see if I can wake up this motor with a carb. throw in a bigger cam and port the heads out, tune the carb with ease, its gotta do something. If not, my nitrous plate should fix that. haha!
the reason I wont throw me in an old school chevy is cause I wanna keep my 6 speed and expensive *** clutch. dont wanna mess with the torque arm or anything like that. I wanna keep all accersorys ( mainly the A/C) in stock place so everything runs nice and smooth. If I go old school, I would have to rig up the A/C system some and I'm just trying to avoid these things. I'm also curious to see if I can wake up this motor with a carb. throw in a bigger cam and port the heads out, tune the carb with ease, its gotta do something. If not, my nitrous plate should fix that. haha!
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 460
From: Houston, Texas, USA
If your car is faster with a carb, then it just means your fuel program or mix of parts wasn't right.....
All things equal, fuel injection makes more power than carb in every case, and with less work. Carbs are also a pain in the **** to adjust.... w/ EFI you just plug in a laptop to adjust it...
But hey, good luck :-)
-Michael
All things equal, fuel injection makes more power than carb in every case, and with less work. Carbs are also a pain in the **** to adjust.... w/ EFI you just plug in a laptop to adjust it...
But hey, good luck :-)
-Michael
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 564
From: dallas, tx.
Its my 97 Trans Am Im converting and its basically all stock except for the aftermarket clutch. I'm not loaded with $$$ so I'm a go the cheaper route.
I've had great success with carb. I am currently running 6.6s in the 1/8 mile with a 383 stroker, 175 shot NOS. 4.11's in the rear. 1979 block in an 85 chevy S-10. It ran a mid 11 in the 1/4 on motor. Didnt cost too much. very simple set-up...........hardly ever tune it. just get in and go basically.
EFI is nice and all.........as long as you got the money!
I still say carb. is stronger for drag racing.
I've had great success with carb. I am currently running 6.6s in the 1/8 mile with a 383 stroker, 175 shot NOS. 4.11's in the rear. 1979 block in an 85 chevy S-10. It ran a mid 11 in the 1/4 on motor. Didnt cost too much. very simple set-up...........hardly ever tune it. just get in and go basically.
EFI is nice and all.........as long as you got the money!
I still say carb. is stronger for drag racing.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 564
From: dallas, tx.
these cars came with FI yes. But can you really say it works? 260 270 hp to the ground? 14's stock? Now the LS1 is something that should never be tampered with. That came with EFI and it works no doubt.
If I stick to what works, that means stayin with carb.
If I stick to what works, that means stayin with carb.
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 586
From: Melbourne, Florida
Originally posted by 93_Z28_6spd
LT1 and LS1 is two total different worlds. I would not compare numbers. My car put 260 rwhp stock I'm guessing if not a few more. It never ran 14's stock, It had 280rwhp with minor bolt ons' then 300rwhp w/ full exhaust work.
The stock valvetrain and heads are not anything like the LS1 setup, and don't make a whole lot of power.
But on your older Carbed setup cars STOCK, I didn't see any that came anywhere close to what the LT1 does.
I'm not going to get into a pissing contest, but I had already talked to someone about this entire thing. If you are going to use a SBC that is carbed, just use your run of the mill SBC and build it for low $ that you can do, which I know. Don't waste your time on the LT1 motor and internals and be carbed. You could sell your LT1 and for the price build yourself a carbed SBC and throw it in, not like your going to use any of the computer systems anyway.
I will agree with you the $$ situation, but good luck to you on your setup, I'm not thrilled with carbs, I have them on my bike and sure it works and is EASY to tune. Big deal, But I like EFI on the setup and I will stick with it since I don't know cars with carbs nearly as much as with EFI.
LT1 and LS1 is two total different worlds. I would not compare numbers. My car put 260 rwhp stock I'm guessing if not a few more. It never ran 14's stock, It had 280rwhp with minor bolt ons' then 300rwhp w/ full exhaust work.
The stock valvetrain and heads are not anything like the LS1 setup, and don't make a whole lot of power.
But on your older Carbed setup cars STOCK, I didn't see any that came anywhere close to what the LT1 does.
I'm not going to get into a pissing contest, but I had already talked to someone about this entire thing. If you are going to use a SBC that is carbed, just use your run of the mill SBC and build it for low $ that you can do, which I know. Don't waste your time on the LT1 motor and internals and be carbed. You could sell your LT1 and for the price build yourself a carbed SBC and throw it in, not like your going to use any of the computer systems anyway.
I will agree with you the $$ situation, but good luck to you on your setup, I'm not thrilled with carbs, I have them on my bike and sure it works and is EASY to tune. Big deal, But I like EFI on the setup and I will stick with it since I don't know cars with carbs nearly as much as with EFI.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 564
From: dallas, tx.
93_Z28_6spd
obviously it would be easier to throw in a gen 1 block with all the goodies, but I am really not looking to go all out on this car. just a little experimenting, and i'll be happy with some nice 11's with cold A/C 6 speedin. I already have my drag truck for serious street/strip racing.
the part number for this intake is:
GM#24502592
dual plane design
obviously it would be easier to throw in a gen 1 block with all the goodies, but I am really not looking to go all out on this car. just a little experimenting, and i'll be happy with some nice 11's with cold A/C 6 speedin. I already have my drag truck for serious street/strip racing.
the part number for this intake is:
GM#24502592
dual plane design
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 29
From: Grants Pass, OR, USA
Why not carb it.
This subject has popped up several times, with many reasons not to put a carb on an LT1.
If I had the money mine would have one now. With the carb mainifold I believe one of the smaller distributors will fit, it may be a real sob to get in, lower the engine?
The real point here is how it will run. If you do this, some performance numbers would be great. Saying it came with EFI so it should be left that way is like saying not to mod it.
Granted a carb and a conventinal distributor can not be tuned with a laptop, IMO this would not be a great loss. Long term reliability should not be an issue, most of us fool with our cars on a regular basis anyway. You could use the O2 sensors to tweek the idle mixture. Leave the computer to control the fans and run the speedo.
Probably the biggest negative would be if your LT1 performed better with a carb than with the EFI, what would people think!!!!
The auto manufactures did not develope EFI for performance or reliability, they developed it to meet emission standards. In recent years carb technology has been refined, mostly due to better manufacturing. The tolerences held in new carbs makes them much more efficient than what was on the market ten years ago.
I say go for it, theres a lot of LT1's with carbs, there just in something other than an F body.
93 M6 Red 59k
Off road pipe, EGR, TBB, B&M Shifter
If I had the money mine would have one now. With the carb mainifold I believe one of the smaller distributors will fit, it may be a real sob to get in, lower the engine?
The real point here is how it will run. If you do this, some performance numbers would be great. Saying it came with EFI so it should be left that way is like saying not to mod it.
Granted a carb and a conventinal distributor can not be tuned with a laptop, IMO this would not be a great loss. Long term reliability should not be an issue, most of us fool with our cars on a regular basis anyway. You could use the O2 sensors to tweek the idle mixture. Leave the computer to control the fans and run the speedo.
Probably the biggest negative would be if your LT1 performed better with a carb than with the EFI, what would people think!!!!
The auto manufactures did not develope EFI for performance or reliability, they developed it to meet emission standards. In recent years carb technology has been refined, mostly due to better manufacturing. The tolerences held in new carbs makes them much more efficient than what was on the market ten years ago.
I say go for it, theres a lot of LT1's with carbs, there just in something other than an F body.
93 M6 Red 59k
Off road pipe, EGR, TBB, B&M Shifter
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 960
Re: Why not carb it.
Originally posted by Seabat
This subject has popped up several times, with many reasons not to put a carb on an LT1.
If I had the money mine would have one now. With the carb mainifold I believe one of the smaller distributors will fit, it may be a real sob to get in, lower the engine?
The real point here is how it will run. If you do this, some performance numbers would be great. Saying it came with EFI so it should be left that way is like saying not to mod it.
Granted a carb and a conventinal distributor can not be tuned with a laptop, IMO this would not be a great loss. Long term reliability should not be an issue, most of us fool with our cars on a regular basis anyway. You could use the O2 sensors to tweek the idle mixture. Leave the computer to control the fans and run the speedo.
Probably the biggest negative would be if your LT1 performed better with a carb than with the EFI, what would people think!!!!
The auto manufactures did not develope EFI for performance or reliability, they developed it to meet emission standards. In recent years carb technology has been refined, mostly due to better manufacturing. The tolerences held in new carbs makes them much more efficient than what was on the market ten years ago.
I say go for it, theres a lot of LT1's with carbs, there just in something other than an F body.
93 M6 Red 59k
Off road pipe, EGR, TBB, B&M Shifter
This subject has popped up several times, with many reasons not to put a carb on an LT1.
If I had the money mine would have one now. With the carb mainifold I believe one of the smaller distributors will fit, it may be a real sob to get in, lower the engine?
The real point here is how it will run. If you do this, some performance numbers would be great. Saying it came with EFI so it should be left that way is like saying not to mod it.
Granted a carb and a conventinal distributor can not be tuned with a laptop, IMO this would not be a great loss. Long term reliability should not be an issue, most of us fool with our cars on a regular basis anyway. You could use the O2 sensors to tweek the idle mixture. Leave the computer to control the fans and run the speedo.
Probably the biggest negative would be if your LT1 performed better with a carb than with the EFI, what would people think!!!!
The auto manufactures did not develope EFI for performance or reliability, they developed it to meet emission standards. In recent years carb technology has been refined, mostly due to better manufacturing. The tolerences held in new carbs makes them much more efficient than what was on the market ten years ago.
I say go for it, theres a lot of LT1's with carbs, there just in something other than an F body.
93 M6 Red 59k
Off road pipe, EGR, TBB, B&M Shifter