efi or carb

[Steeevooo]

So I'm debating on whether or not to go with a carb or stick with my efi on my 5.0 I was thinking a carb would be a cheaper route instead of looking for a more beefier f.i. intake...what do you guys think?

[dropit69]

im going efi on my new stuff..i hate carbs and have no luck getting them right..

[JLM]

I would say go with whatever you are most comfortable with. A properly tunes Carb works just as well in a lot of situations as efi does.

Tuning efi can be a pain and daunting, but then so can tuning carbs.

[Steeevooo]

ok how about this...whats cheaper?

[Yoda4561]

Carbs are cheaper, I don't think there's any way around that unless you pull an EFI engine out of something else.

[Jim Nilsen]

For the amount of money you can spend on either a carb setup or an EFI you can get an LSengine complete with ecm and harness from somewhere and be way ahead. it may take you awhile to find what you are looking for at the right price but it can be found easier each day.

When you can get a complete engine and harness for around 1k you have to ask yourself if you can beat that with new parts for a total package that really works?

Go EFI and you will be happier after it is over and done with getting it done and the same can be said for the LS motor. The carb will always be good enough but you will always be looking for something out of it it can't give from one day to the next.

[Steeevooo]

I've been playing it over and over again in my head about getting an ls1 and tossing it my mustang but I just can't bring myself to own a chevy powered ford...but I think you are right and I think I'm gunna stick with the fuel injection and take the hit for a few extra dollars

[tonykim]

Carb is a lot cheaper but EFI has more flexibility and reliability, driveability, and fuel economy. My 420 rwhp 93 LX starts in 17 deg F days (it's a daily driver), idles in
100 deg F traffic all day long, get's over 23 mpg on the highway.

However, with a big cam and lots of mods tuning EFI on 5.0s takes some time and patience. For your 331 I'd recommend aftermarket intake, at least 70 mm TB,
30 lb-hr injectors, Anderson Motorsports powerpipe (probably 3.5"), and Pro-M MAF at least 80 mm. Do not use the smaller 75 mm units. they can read airflow
in the reverse direction. with a really big cam this will be a nightmare. For fuel rails I've used stock ones up to 550 hp without issue.

And tuning. All I can say it's a requirement if you have any sizeable cam at all. Some folks get lucky with a certain combo and driveability but power is always
left on the table without a tune. For example my NA 347 made 350 rwhp without a tune using short hedders. The tune picked up 50 rwhp on the first go around
and after 7k miles we found another 25 rwhp.

[Lowend]

After 15+ in racing & the performance industry I have come to a conclusion:

Carbs are dumb

The tuneability, driveability, and consistancy you get from a good modern EFI is simply unbeatable.

Can carbs work well; yes. Are they less expensive; well not if you already have a 5.0 with EFI on it. Do carbs make more power... in my experience, no.


Do you have other mods to your 5.0 that make you need to upgrade the intake??

[DriverzInc]

Steeevo,
Yes, no LS1's in mustangs please. Just not right. I'd say go with whatever you know, and are comfortable with. That suggestion above I think was the best advice. Carbs are easy, in my opinion, and there's just something cool about popping the hood on a muscle car and seeing a carb and air cleaner. Its just right. I'm in the carb mood lately too.

[MonzaRacer]

Heck to keep it cheaper look at Megasquirt, you can get a EEC adapter to use the stock harness and then just dial it in from there.
And you can fork over more money to get it ready built or do it your self and know how to fix it if something goes out.
If I had $5000 to run Fast or Big Stuff or some such Id have a much more complicate car.
My car will be simple, inexpensive(as cheap as possible) and hopefully fast!