Carb'd reliability?
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Staging Lane
Joined: Mar 2014
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Carb'd reliability? I have a 73 camaro I'm putting an ls1 into. I want to go carbd cause its cheaper and easier but is it as reliable as efi? same mpg with a tune and same hp/performance? the car will be my daily so I'd like to do it once rather than spend money twice re doing it. Thanks.
Yes, you will get the same mileage and reliability as EFI. Carbs are pretty simple things, there isn't a lot that can go wrong with them and when something does all you need is a screwdriver and a couple of wrenches.
The MSD ignition boxes seem to have their share of trouble right out of the package, but from what I have seen the problem usually shows up when it is first installed. Once you have it working it will be good to go.
Carbs don't work as well in cold weather as EFI. If you do a bunch of cold weather starts it will use more fuel then. But once warmed up and on the road the MPG numbers are very similar as EFI
The MSD ignition boxes seem to have their share of trouble right out of the package, but from what I have seen the problem usually shows up when it is first installed. Once you have it working it will be good to go.
Carbs don't work as well in cold weather as EFI. If you do a bunch of cold weather starts it will use more fuel then. But once warmed up and on the road the MPG numbers are very similar as EFI
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 93
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Yes, you will get the same mileage and reliability as EFI. Carbs are pretty simple things, there isn't a lot that can go wrong with them and when something does all you need is a screwdriver and a couple of wrenches.
The MSD ignition boxes seem to have their share of trouble right out of the package, but from what I have seen the problem usually shows up when it is first installed. Once you have it working it will be good to go.
Carbs don't work as well in cold weather as EFI. If you do a bunch of cold weather starts it will use more fuel then. But once warmed up and on the road the MPG numbers are very similar as EFI
The MSD ignition boxes seem to have their share of trouble right out of the package, but from what I have seen the problem usually shows up when it is first installed. Once you have it working it will be good to go.
Carbs don't work as well in cold weather as EFI. If you do a bunch of cold weather starts it will use more fuel then. But once warmed up and on the road the MPG numbers are very similar as EFI
One thing I should add from what I have read fuel injection motors do live longer. Carbs don't meter fuel well when cold, so there is a bit more ring wash and gas getting into the oil. But we are probably talking 150 thousand miles vs. 100 thousand mile life.
TECH Regular
Joined: Sep 2013
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Carb is only as efficient as the person who tunes it. Most don't have an eye/ear for fine detail, so never get it spot on. I have never come across a carburetor that I couldn't get a better quality idle (especially 4 corner) than the last guy who looked at it, all comes down to experience and attention to detail.
I doubt engine life is going to be anywhere near that dramatically reduced, not when an EFI system that has failed o2 sensors and other problematic crap start going on, they can quickly drown an engine no different to a carb that is playing up. Difference would be next to nothing if you know what you are doing.
I doubt engine life is going to be anywhere near that dramatically reduced, not when an EFI system that has failed o2 sensors and other problematic crap start going on, they can quickly drown an engine no different to a carb that is playing up. Difference would be next to nothing if you know what you are doing.
Both are reliable if you use good parts and do a quality installation. I've done two ls swaps, one carbed and one EFI and i consider both to be reliable. I have had one MSD 6010 box go up in smoke after a few weeks of use on the carbed car. To maximize the reliability of the EFI swap I installed new O2 sensors, brand new harness, and had the injectors tested/repaired before installation. I've had no issues yet with the EFI car but I've only been driving it for about 3-4 months now.
I prefer a carb for a mostly race or radical street application. Tuning a carb is cheaper and easier unless you already have the software and skill to tune a EFI car. The intial swap is a little cheaper and less complex not having to deal with a wiring harness and custom tune.
For a street cruiser I prefer EFI for drivability and fuel mileage. It's nice to turn the key and go in any weather condition with no warm up. For a daily driver I would definately go with fuel injection.
Neither is a bad choice, it comes down to personal preference more than anything.
I prefer a carb for a mostly race or radical street application. Tuning a carb is cheaper and easier unless you already have the software and skill to tune a EFI car. The intial swap is a little cheaper and less complex not having to deal with a wiring harness and custom tune.
For a street cruiser I prefer EFI for drivability and fuel mileage. It's nice to turn the key and go in any weather condition with no warm up. For a daily driver I would definately go with fuel injection.
Neither is a bad choice, it comes down to personal preference more than anything.
I have owned dozens of each over the years and overall, modern fuel injection has consistently been superior in both mileage and reliability. This is not to say thay a carburetor cannot be reliable because it certainly can. However, it just simply not as reliable as modern fuel injection. As for fuel mileage, a carburetor just simply cannot match fuel injection overall. It does not have the functionality and control to do it and this is not debatable. With that said, a carburetor can be highly tuned for very good fuel mileage and could be made to get the same highway cruise mileage. It iust cannot match fuel injection for overall fuel mileage.
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I daily drive my carbed rides and the problem with them lies within not driving them, today's fuel turns to a small coat of dust when it evaporates and sits. Doing so again and again can cause the float to stick eventually. Not a big deal unless you hop on and burn off for somewhere and need to get there ASAP.
I have been daily driving carbed rides since I was 16. Only problem is trying to use a old carb that leaks, and the average joe like me rebuilds a old carb and eliminates that issue.
Now for daily street use up north that is not trying to get max power, a carb with a choke makes life pretty simple in cold weather as long as it is not far below freezing.
I have been daily driving carbed rides since I was 16. Only problem is trying to use a old carb that leaks, and the average joe like me rebuilds a old carb and eliminates that issue.
Now for daily street use up north that is not trying to get max power, a carb with a choke makes life pretty simple in cold weather as long as it is not far below freezing.
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Staging Lane
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 93
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ya I'm still up in the air. I had a 98 trans am and honestly loved the efi but all the wiring scared me. I know I won't have ALL that wiring but still quite a bit more than your old school carbd ride. but the main thing is money. my budget is very tight and at the moment I won't be able to buy parts for at least a few months if not longer. id like to go efi but the tuning and fuel system is just so Damn expensive and every time I do something to the motor I have to take it to a tuner which is more $$$ but a carb I can just use my screw driver. but I'm liking the opinions/experience keep them coming. if you have a carbd ride let me know what you think.
The functionality and control may be more better, but the actual benefit of all this control is questionable. The areas where EFI does better simply doesn't amount to much. From what I have seen in real world driving the difference in observed MPG is not noticeable. There are a number of web write ups were people have switched between the two and recorded similar mileage. If there is a difference it is not anywhere as noticeable as the difference between winter and summer gas or getting stuck with a 10% ethanol fuel blend.
Now if you are talking smog, then no question, EFI winds hands down. That is why all the car manufactures were forced to EFI. But MPG? I'm not seeing it.
as Doug F once said, a poorly tuned carb will run better than a poorly tuned FI system, lol
I have had both on LS engines, and were Procharged-my blowthru ran perfect, but I struggled with the FI, but once it was tuned properly, I actually liked it better
but a carb will get you up and running, quicker and cheaper-unless you get a comp. harness/intake/ECU from a take out and can do it yourself
as said, its in the tuners hands
I have had both on LS engines, and were Procharged-my blowthru ran perfect, but I struggled with the FI, but once it was tuned properly, I actually liked it better
but a carb will get you up and running, quicker and cheaper-unless you get a comp. harness/intake/ECU from a take out and can do it yourself
as said, its in the tuners hands
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 93
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well the build is in the baby stages. all I have right now is an 01 camaro ss shortblock with very very very low miles and a pair of 317 heads.it's still needs a cam, timing chain, liters, covers etc etc etc. so maybe ill just work on getting all that first before I decide carb or fi. but if I come across some deals on an intake on crsigslist I most likely won't pass them up and that'll make the decision for me.
what's a good ls1 cam to go with? I want a nasty one lol
what's a good ls1 cam to go with? I want a nasty one lol
Launching!
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 205
Likes: 3
From: Valencia Ca
Try Jeff over at AED, his carbs are usually about perfect right out of the box tailored to your car, motor etc.
Service AFTER the sale is incredible which is important to me. Been 2 yrs super happy with it and I have a real finicky motor to tune (82 deg overlap 8 in vacuum on a good day)
Service AFTER the sale is incredible which is important to me. Been 2 yrs super happy with it and I have a real finicky motor to tune (82 deg overlap 8 in vacuum on a good day)