ls carb vs efi?

[71maroesteban]

I know this has probably been asked hundreds of times but I'd like to know why go with one over the other? I'm considering going carb since I know them better and to what I understand I just need a msd controller so tuning is pretty simple and it's not that hard to get my stock tank to work with it,
Then their Is efi which needs the harness to be reworked and a tune to run good also I'm not to sure if it's true but read somewhere that carbed engines don't like being at a low idle such as going 70 at only 1800 rpm since that's my planned rpm range since I plan to use a close ratio magnum

[Schwartz Performance]

LS carbs require use of additional modules to get the spark plugs firing. Idle isn't really an issue, unless you have a very aggressive cam.
There is still carb tuning required but it's obviously all physical labor not computer based. I prefer EFI since it's simpler to me. I understand budget constraints but I did my LS Miata conversion using a truck wiring harness that I reworked myself and it was $300, and was on the LS1tech forums a lot an craigslist to find deals. If you want to go EFI later, you're going to be better off just saving your pennies now so you do LMT have to redo the system later.

-Dale

[dirty rick]

The difference between carb'd and injected is being able to reach in through the window and start it, vs coaxing it to life.

[DreamRyder1963]

The difference between carb'd and injected is being able to reach in through the window and start it, vs coaxing it to life.

That is perfectly put. I plan on running modified factory injection on my corvair. I drive a C10 with a carburetor everyday and I will always go injected if I have a choice.

[andrewb70]

Another reason to run EFI is that when you are auto crossing or doing track days, you won't have to worry about fuel sloshing around and the engine potentially dying or stumbling in the corners. The LS EFI stuff is not that complicated and there are a ton of solutions out there from OEM ECUs to the new Holley EFY system that is easy to tune...it even tunes itself!

Andrew

[Bonehead]

Half the fun of switching to an LS is to get away rom antiquated, unreliable, wasteful, ancient technology like a carburetor. It's like carrying around a rotary phone instead of a new smart phone. What was the point?

But hey, it's not my choice, but it could be yours!

[garys 68]

Hey, I'm thinking of buying one of these to put on the dash of my 68 LS corvette, lol:
http://www.rotarydialtelephones.com/...cell_phone.htm

To the OP, the whole point to the LS motors is to develop high cylinder pressures at low rpm to get good gas mileage and still flow great on the top end. Unless you're going with a lot of aftermarket mods, no additional tuning is required. For a street driven car, efi is an easy choice.
Now if you were looking for peak hp numbers without worrying about drivability, a carb might be a more economical choice.

Half the fun of switching to an LS is to get away rom antiquated, unreliable, wasteful, ancient technology like a carburetor. It's like carrying around a rotary phone instead of a new smart phone. What was the point?

But hey, it's not my choice, but it could be yours!

[Rod]

wow! so many bad things about carbs! I guess I better change my championship autocross winning, car to fuel injection because Carbs are TERRIBLE!! LOL....... A well tuned Carb races just fine just like a well tuned fuel injection system...tuning a carb is raw and simple. tuning EFI is a little more work but isn't to bad...the real advantage to EFI is its self adjust ability to environment and its cold start mode....pick the one you want...you cant go wrong ......carbs have been racing since racing started, EFI has become the norm in fuel control.....BOTH WORK....

[davidomilligan]

If you run your car at the same altitude and you dont have alot of climate change your carb car will do just fine without tweaking. i prefer carb on all my motorcycles. and they are quick and easy to tune if you know how to. i chose efi on my build simply because i know absolutely nothing about it and i want to learn since there are advantages and disadvantages to each. builds are all about preference and custom modification. one thing ive learned from mine is how much useless and inaccurate information you can find online about peoples opinions. both are great just depends what you want

[71maroesteban]

Thanks for all the input guys I only looked at going carb because it's what I know but I shouldn't let what I don't know stop me from learning about it so I'll go efi especially since I all ready have the intake throttle body and wiring

[davidomilligan]

Thanks for all the input guys I only looked at going carb because it's what I know but I shouldn't let what I don't know stop me from learning about it so I'll go efi especially since I all ready have the intake throttle body and wiring

what ecu are you planning on running?

[71maroesteban]

[QUOTE=davidomilligan;1096788]

Thanks for all the input guys I only looked at going carb because it's what I know but I shouldn't let what I don't know stop me from learning about it so I'll go efi especially since I all ready have the intake throttle body and wiring

what ecu are you planning on running?[/QUOTE ] I was planning on using the one that came with the engine

[CampbellshotrodsAZ]

A well built carb can be every bit as reliable as EFI. My 11 second drag car has a Holley 750 double pumper that hasn't been touched in easily, 4 years. I can go in there cold, pump it a few times and it'll light, and stay running. After it's warmed up I can reach in, tap the key and it'll start and stay running without any gas pedal assistance. Fuel economy is a different topic, but it is a drag car after all. But what's interesting with that, at least on a gen I SBC, a well tuned carb is not far off from the bolt on aftermarket EFI kits. I think it was Hotrod that did a back to back comparison, and the carb to all EFI systems was within 1 mpg.

I am planning a carbed LSX in a project soon. It will be more track oriented anyways, so I'll be fine with that. Plus, I've got numerous EFI swaps planned that will nickel and dime me to death, I'd rather have one car that's simple, and tunable by me.

[Bonehead]

I love these discussions. lol

[Cruisin'73]

+1 vote for EFI. I was in the same boat when I did my budget 5.3l swap in my Nova. After much debate I elected carburation over a stock EFI system. And for the past 2 summers and 6000 miles I have fallen in love with my rumbling junkyard mouse.

But now I am ready to go EFI:
-I’m tired of constantly chasing a good tune.
-I’m fed up with buying jets and nozzles and pumps and cams and diaphrams and restrictors and....
-I’m sick of the car performing differently when I drive to work on a cold morning VS when I drive home on a warm evening.
-I’m frustrated that when I drive from sea level up a cold mountain pass my car is a misbehaving mess.
-My wife is sick of the smell when I park a hot car in the garage and the carb off-gasses (and if she ain’t happy…).
-I’m pissed about the embarrassment of fighting to start and run a heat-soaked car at the track or a show.
-But most of all I am going INSANE listening to my fuel pump sing me the song of his people! NNNNNAAAARRRRRRRRRrrrrrRRRRRR….
(Disclaimer* With lots of time, dedication, cost, research and praying I know it is possible my carb MIGHT perform on par with EFI.)

That is why this winter I am spending the time and small additional cost that I should have invested up front to go EFI. But either way you are going to have a TON OF FUN and learn a lot!

AND GOOD NEWS! If you do decide to go carb’d; I know where you can pick up an Edelbrock dual plane, Speed Demon 750, MSD6010+harness and one lousy POS fuel pump for a good price! HAHAHA…serious, IM me if interested