GNCLONE

When I built my car, there was no engine in it. I picked up an LQ9 complete top to bottom. Here are some reasons why I went with a carb:

1. drive by wire/ electronic gas pedal issues
2. anti theft programming/VATS
3. fuel pump
4. CEL/SES trips
5. needs tune each time a mod is made
6. car was already set up for carb (tank, lines, throttle cable etc.)
7. giant wiring harness I could get rid of
8. EFI does not necessarily make more power
9. Holley carb new for less than $300
10. Been there done that with Megasquirt

Did I mention it needs tune each time a mod is made?

Paul57

Keep It Simple.
Electronics can be nice until things start to fail.

twinturbo2

iTrader: (16)

i agree

Doug G

X 3

When I do mine....soonnnnnnnnnnnn

newschool72

iTrader: (12)

EZ-EFI baby!!!!!!! carb style intake, self-learning EFI. Old school look, modern convenience. HP and torque as good as a finely tuned carb. Im old school as it gets, but this stuff works!

Nic Morales

I too agree, I'm in Hawaii so my " Tuner ' options are very slim to none. I'm going carb at first. I most likely will go efi later but I want to learn to be a good carb tuner before i try to tune or have my efi tuned for me. I think its best to start out with the basics first. I'm going with a twin blowthru turbo set up so I think I will get plenty practice on tuning. or on swaping out blown up motors. lol

newschool72

iTrader: (12)

Get a great tuner or, yes , blown motors are in your future. Boost is great till things go lean. Blow through is an exact science. My hat is off to u for even trying........David

Gray86hatch

iTrader: (83)

$1500 Holley EFI would have solved most of your issues

You don't need a dyno to tune it. No security issues
Plug everything in and start the car. Drive it tunes as you drive. Make changes it retunes.

properly set up EFI system will make just as much power as a carb.

I will take the efi any day over a carb. I have the cold start up and drivablity carb just cant deliver in all conditions

Tim

Paul57

Where did you find one for that price (complete)??
$1000+ less for a complete carb setup can buy a lot of other goodies.

This might be good for someone that isn't knowledgeable with carbs. Then again, how knowledgeable is anyone once sensors start failing and the only place you can get replacement parts is Holley?? You can carry a complete carb rebuild kit in your glovebox if you want.

With most of our performance motors you should be letting the motor warm for a minute or two anyway. It is good for valve spring life with a higher lift cam. And, you certainly shouldn't be (heavily) loading the motor until it is at least 150-ish. If your choke is setup properly there is very little (noticeable) difference in cold weather...unless "maybe" you are driving througout the winter in a northern climate.

Gray86hatch

iTrader: (83)

Summit or any retailer has them for this. Plug in and play.

Carb is $500. MSD $300 Intake $300 vs stock stuff from GM

It is all GM sensors so any parts store has them.

I have never had to rebuild a carb in 10 years. I buy new stuff not someone elses problems.

Warming a engine up is common sence. Real carbs don't have chokes.

I can reach in click the key fires right up warms up in 40 degree weather or 100 degree.

Drove my car for 10 miles and it was tuned. Didn't touch the tool box Went 10.00 first pass shifting it 800 rpm lower to keep it off the rev limiter I forgot to reset.

Most EFI problems are created by the user with poor wiring.

Tim

Paul57

I would like to see a link for that ($1500) price. So what intake and ignition controller does the Holley system take?? What is the cost?? Don't forget the fuel pump.

That's what they all say.

I hope you were better at "tuning" them??

Now there is statement. I could say...real men know how to tune carbs with chokes.

Nice. I guess tapping the throttle to set the choke on a not-real carb is too complex??

Nice.

Gray86hatch

iTrader: (83)

http://www.holley.com/550-603.asp

I have two of these and they will plug in a run a dead stock engine.

This comes with the box and harnesses.

A carb that makes real power dosn't have a choke horn. It hurts power.

Gray86hatch

iTrader: (83)

Fuel pumps are needed on Carb and EFI engines. A 255 is what $100

http://www.carshopinc.com/product_in...124986/550-603

Trust me we had a daliy driver chevelle that was great but we put the ls in the EFI is just the final step to make it even better. 25 mpg with the air on is what I expect.

Tim

Paul57

I know what you are saying but a 900cfm carb (with choke) can knock down some very healthy ET's...and work in adverse weather too.
Thanks for the links. I was not aware there was a system like that. I am still not crazy about chasing sensors when they start going bad.

Paul57

Plus, the Holley EFI system assumes that you have every sensor, controller and piece of wiring that it takes to run factory EFI. A very large percentage of the motors purchased are not 100% intact with electronics. Now the EFI price went up dramatically. And, when things start failing it is much more expensive than a carb.

newschool72

iTrader: (12)

The FAST EZ EFI is a super simple set-up that self-tunes and so far no headaches. If i remember right, all i had to hook up was a temp sender and oxy-sensor. Of course, a power wire, ground, and fuel pump relay, and i took advantage of the fan control and idle-up for the ac( both optional ).

Gordon0652

iTrader: (4)

Can not agree with the OP anymore! But i'll stay with EFI.

Pop N Wood

iTrader: (1)

I guess I don't understand the point of that box. Looks like you still need all the factory injectors and engine sensors (cam, crank, O2)? Why not just stick with the stock ECU and harness if you already have all that stuff? And you still need a lap top to tune it? Seems like a waste money to me. The "any parts store" argument sure falls flat if the ECU goes out. Might be better sticking with the stock computer for that reason.

To upgrade a carb'd motor requires a kit with a throttle body. They are a few hundred more. Add another couple of bills to put in a wideband and you really haven't saved any money.

I liked the look of the Fast EFI stuff, but at $3K they are definitely not a cheap option. I like what people say about them though.

You know Honda's start with a turn of the key in any weather. Some don't even require a key. Following the logic in this thread maybe I should trade my carb'd motor for one of them?

Carbs definitely aren't for everyone. IMO This guy looks to be switching for all the right reasons

Gray86hatch

iTrader: (83)

This does exactly what fast XFI does. Just a lot cheaper.

Price out what a stock ecu, conversion to the veh you are putting it in and a dyno tune. Or buy the software to tune it yourself. Then go to school to learn how to tune with the software.

$1500 is a deal. Comes with a WBo2.

You need all the sensors for the MSD box also. And those never fail either. Lol.

Tim

3pedals

iTrader: (3)

I agree 150% with grey86hatch, the holley HP efi is the way to go. As soon as budget allows I will do it.
The holley unit is PERFECT for someone who want s to stuff an LS into a vehicle that didnt come with one. For $1500ish, the holley ecu and wire harness will plug into every factory sensor that comes on a junkyard ls, and all you need to so is supply 12v, ground, and fuel pressure. The holley efi tunes itself with the wideband O2, so you just decide what your target A/F is, and it hits those targets for you and saves the tune in memmory. It also controls the coilpack igniton.
I like my carb, but there really is NO COMPARISON, and if you start from scratch the completed holley efi is not much more $$$ than a complete carb setup.
Barrett