Are carburators easy to work with? My experience is with the LT1. Thinking about getting a 3rd gen. Which one is easier according to you guys? Thanks.

 

Carbs are easier, they just don't give you the benefits that come with EFI.

 

I also heard they are cheaper to work with? Is this right?

 

I am not a 3rd gen expert, but aren't they tuned port injected?

I like FI over a carb. Too many little parts and manual adjustments to make. Though a good working and matched carb is fine.

 

In the short run, yes. If you want to run the LT1 EFI system you will have to make sure you get the PCM, wiring harness, and also have the fuel system, any missing sensors, troubles with the speedo, reprogramming the PCM for your changes, etc. To some people this is worth the hassle for the better emissions, throttle response, and fuel economy.

A carb setup is more straightforward and inexpensive. You could argue that the savings in gas from the EFI might pay for itself in the long run.

EFI is great for the street. If the car isn't going to see a whole lot of daily driving type of duties or it's a race car that spends more of it's time at WOT and in a more narrow RPM range than a carb is a much easier choice.

Other things to consider might be your future plans with the engine. If you plan on going with a hefty cam, the EFI system is going to make it more streetable.... or you could run a bigger cam with the same "streetability"

Sorry to complicate things, I'm good at that

 

To make a carb run as well as FI in really good tune takes some real knowledge of modifying the metering circuits in a carb. That's not common knowledge to alot of people.

Fuel injection is the same.... you just "jet" and alter the metering circuits with the laptop. The power differences are not even noticable and if they are.... one or the other needs some refinement.

-Mindgame

 

I agree if you are talking peak numbers but EFI will perform better over the entire RPM range, even then it won't make much difference under WOT. The real benefit of EFI is part throttle operation, where it really shines. I wouldn't trade my EFI in for a carb if you paid me, but my car is all about the best street manners I can get out of a cam'd f-body.

 

Yes, it will in the typical setup. Like I said, most people do not know how to tune a carb on a level that will negate these differences.
You need to do extensive primary metering adjustments to make up for the differences and the porosity of many of the old Holley metering blocks doesn't help the situation any either. Annular boosters are also a must. You will see this level of carb tuning in the higher level race engine tuning though and the differences diminish considerably.

-Mindgame