fuel injection vs. carb - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

chamberedcoal · 05-28-2003, 11:32 PM

i was wondering the performance/durability of fuel injection vs. carb. i havent had any trouble with with my carb engine im planing on rebuilding an engine and was wondering if fuel injection would be worth it?

Mike76251 · 05-29-2003, 12:47 AM

My opinion,
Fuel injection has it's good points and they are;
Better starts (versus a poorly-tuned carb)
More mileage
Less carbon build-up

It's bad points,
Too many sensors to go bad
One "too many" computers to go bad
You need another computer to fix it when it pukes
It has a electric fuel pump (that you couldn't give me) because they pull too many amps, are too noisy, burn too many cars to the ground when their roll over switch fails
It has injectors that plug up too easy for me
It costs too much for what it delivers
Too hard to fix on the side of the road

I'll take a carb (in other words) 'cause I can make it work without a diagnostic scanner around.

79BIG10 · 05-29-2003, 02:10 AM

I agree. I'll take a carb over FI anytime. My brother had a 87 with FI stock and drove him nuts with computer going out, sensors going out etc. He sold the truck after getting it running enough. If you decide to go with aftermarket FI get ready to get a 2nd mortgage since they cost way too much!!

*1FaastC10* · 05-29-2003, 08:05 AM

personally, i'd take EFI over a carb any day. true, any idiot can work on a carb, but can any idiot make one deliver the proper air/fuel ratio at any throttle position? NO! with the EFI setup, it is constantly adjusting the A/F mixture for maximum performance or efficiency, depending on what kind of system it is. 90% of the time, this will give you better fuel economy, as well as better performance.

also, i would go with some sort of multi-port setup as opposed to a TBI setup, unless you're going purely for mailage reasons. stock type TBI setups are great for milage, but when it comes to performance, you might as well stick a 1bbl carb on it. THEY SUCK!

jon_volk · 05-29-2003, 08:25 AM

EFI...not OEM efi but carb manifold converted to aftermarket efi. its not very complicated.

Tom · 05-29-2003, 01:57 PM

If you have the cash, FI is the only way to go.

**swervin ervin** · 05-29-2003, 04:17 PM

I'm another idiot I guess. I'll take a carb any day over FI. FI is way too complicated for what you get. I can take a carb and turn it inside out and back again.

I guess it's a matter of coming from the old school. It seems that most of the ones who like FI are the younger crowd. They grew up on it and carbs are like a science to them. These are also the ones who don't know jack about carbs.

IMO, TBI sucks bigguns, and computers don't belong in vehicles.

**Captkaos** · 05-29-2003, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by swervin ervin
IMO, TBI sucks bigguns, and computers don't belong in vehicles.

Computers like a radio, MSD box, Amplifier,

Aren't they just simple computers?

Injection baby! IFI that is!

rockman20 · 05-29-2003, 05:24 PM

If I had the cash, I would go FI. There is a reason why the cars now days are coming with multi-port FI. It works and it works well.

Yes there are more sensors, parts, etc, to fail. But it does what it does well. Constantly monitoring autmospheric pressures, oxygen, etc. Can't take a carb from sea level to the mountains and continue driving with no adjustments.

But for the price and hassle, I will stick with a carb for now. Some day I want to do a FI convertion just to say I did it.

Mike76251 · 05-29-2003, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by swervin ervin

IMO, computers don't belong in vehicles.

I hear ya!!!!!!
I Stand and Second that one.

Waay to go!

Tom · 05-30-2003, 02:55 PM

Fly by wire is a all computer controlled system for steering a airplane. If electrical power fails, plane goes plowing into the ground. I hate this. I dont think computers belong in control of airplanes. But if it wasent for fly-by-wire, there would be no F16's, no SR-71's, no F-117 stealths etc. All airbus commercial planes are FBW. Like it or not, they do the job, very well. I used to be a die hard carb guy. Not anymore. When you can adjust your timing, air/fuel mixture and lots of other stuff after a run with your labtop inside the car, thats ultimate tunability.

**Captkaos** · 05-30-2003, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tom
Fly by wire is a all computer controlled system for steering a airplane.

Same thing holds true on a Corvette and Trailblazer throttle, Fly by wire.

05-28-2003, 11:32 PM	#1
chamberedcoal Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 14	fuel injection vs. carb i was wondering the performance/durability of fuel injection vs. carb. i havent had any trouble with with my carb engine im planing on rebuilding an engine and was wondering if fuel injection would be worth it?

05-29-2003, 02:10 AM	#3
79BIG10 I'm back with 2nd truck! Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 3,774	I agree. I'll take a carb over FI anytime. My brother had a 87 with FI stock and drove him nuts with computer going out, sensors going out etc. He sold the truck after getting it running enough. If you decide to go with aftermarket FI get ready to get a 2nd mortgage since they cost way too much!! __________________ 1979 Chevrolet Bonanza Big10 "Tootsie Roll" 1985 Chevrolet Silverado (wife's) Member of the Southern Bowties Club "Don't underestimate how sexy a fat man who drinks to excess can be." Homer Simpson

05-29-2003, 08:25 AM	#5
jon_volk Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Milford, CT Posts: 242	EFI...not OEM efi but carb manifold converted to aftermarket efi. its not very complicated. __________________ 83 Monte Carlo 92 Camaro

05-29-2003, 01:57 PM	#6
Tom driving is in my blood Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Mesa AZ Posts: 5,748	If you have the cash, FI is the only way to go. __________________ -78 c10 short/step: 388cid, M20, 5/5 drop, lots more. Playtoy and first vehicle. -98 c1500 x-cab: 5.7L, 17" rims, 5/6 drop, flowmaster, helper bags,NBS rear disk brakes. -02 Suburban 4x4: leveled front -CBR600F4i, CBR600RR, CBR1000RR, and standup skis DISCLAIMER: I cant spell for the life of me.

05-29-2003, 04:17 PM	#7
swervin ervin You get what you pay for Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Cherryville, NC Posts: 4,798	I'm another idiot I guess. I'll take a carb any day over FI. FI is way too complicated for what you get. I can take a carb and turn it inside out and back again. I guess it's a matter of coming from the old school. It seems that most of the ones who like FI are the younger crowd. They grew up on it and carbs are like a science to them. These are also the ones who don't know jack about carbs. IMO, TBI sucks bigguns, and computers don't belong in vehicles. __________________ Mike 1985 Chevy C-10

05-29-2003, 12:47 AM	#2
Mike76251 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 2,499	My opinion, Fuel injection has it's good points and they are; Better starts (versus a poorly-tuned carb) More mileage Less carbon build-up It's bad points, Too many sensors to go bad One "too many" computers to go bad You need another computer to fix it when it pukes It has a electric fuel pump (that you couldn't give me) because they pull too many amps, are too noisy, burn too many cars to the ground when their roll over switch fails It has injectors that plug up too easy for me It costs too much for what it delivers Too hard to fix on the side of the road I'll take a carb (in other words) 'cause I can make it work without a diagnostic scanner around.

05-29-2003, 08:05 AM	#4
1FaastC10 Account Suspended Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Elkhart, IN Posts: 6,399	personally, i'd take EFI over a carb any day. true, any idiot can work on a carb, but can any idiot make one deliver the proper air/fuel ratio at any throttle position? NO! with the EFI setup, it is constantly adjusting the A/F mixture for maximum performance or efficiency, depending on what kind of system it is. 90% of the time, this will give you better fuel economy, as well as better performance. also, i would go with some sort of multi-port setup as opposed to a TBI setup, unless you're going purely for mailage reasons. stock type TBI setups are great for milage, but when it comes to performance, you might as well stick a 1bbl carb on it. THEY SUCK!

05-29-2003, 05:24 PM	#9
rockman20 "The dude abides" Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: North Dakota Posts: 472	If I had the cash, I would go FI. There is a reason why the cars now days are coming with multi-port FI. It works and it works well. Yes there are more sensors, parts, etc, to fail. But it does what it does well. Constantly monitoring autmospheric pressures, oxygen, etc. Can't take a carb from sea level to the mountains and continue driving with no adjustments. But for the price and hassle, I will stick with a carb for now. Some day I want to do a FI convertion just to say I did it. __________________ RockMan 1993 Chevy Silverado C3500 1 ton dually 1994 Honda Civic 1969 Oldsmobile Cutlass S 1953 IH Farmall Super M New to the fleet: 1992 Subaru Loyal

05-30-2003, 02:55 PM	#11
Tom driving is in my blood Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Mesa AZ Posts: 5,748	Fly by wire is a all computer controlled system for steering a airplane. If electrical power fails, plane goes plowing into the ground. I hate this. I dont think computers belong in control of airplanes. But if it wasent for fly-by-wire, there would be no F16's, no SR-71's, no F-117 stealths etc. All airbus commercial planes are FBW. Like it or not, they do the job, very well. I used to be a die hard carb guy. Not anymore. When you can adjust your timing, air/fuel mixture and lots of other stuff after a run with your labtop inside the car, thats ultimate tunability. __________________ -78 c10 short/step: 388cid, M20, 5/5 drop, lots more. Playtoy and first vehicle. -98 c1500 x-cab: 5.7L, 17" rims, 5/6 drop, flowmaster, helper bags,NBS rear disk brakes. -02 Suburban 4x4: leveled front -CBR600F4i, CBR600RR, CBR1000RR, and standup skis DISCLAIMER: I cant spell for the life of me.

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