Carb? EFI? What to choose.

Iron Ranger · Oct 18, 2007

I am in process of installing a 5.0 from an 89 F-150 into my 92 Ranger. My brother wants to go carb due to the simplicity of it, I want to use EFI(thats what my Ranger is now and thats how I want it to stay), plus the 5.0 has EFI w/ the computer any way. So, what do you guys think about the system onhttp://www.massfloefi.com or that electronic carb that was featured on Horsepower TV? He wants electronic carb, i want the system on the website. Input would be appreciated.

sublime68charger · Oct 18, 2007

if possible I would use the EFI that is on teh 5.0 motor now.

just my $.02 on the matter,

my be harder to setup and get going but easier to run in the long run.

Ranger5.0 · Oct 18, 2007

**** carbs, they have no place on the road these days, they went out with bellbottoms. EFI isnt that overwhelming, just get a shop manual for the truck the engine came from, then get a manual for your truck. Take some time to read over the wireing schematics, dont rush the swap, and you will be fine, and happy with the dependable starting, better fuel milage and dependability.

Ranger44 · Oct 18, 2007

+3 on EFI. Better in so many ways. Just do EFI if ya already got it.

baddad457 · Oct 18, 2007

Ranger5.0 said:
**** carbs, they have no place on the road these days, they went out with bellbottoms. EFI isnt that overwhelming, just get a shop manual for the truck the engine came from, then get a manual for your truck. Take some time to read over the wireing schematics, dont rush the swap, and you will be fine, and happy with the dependable starting, better fuel milage and dependability.

I bet if you'd drive mine, you'd retract that "**** carbs" statement. If I hadn't told you it had a carb, you'd never guess it from driving it. :c-n:

Ranger5.0 · Oct 18, 2007

lol, baddad, whne i go out at 4am in the middle of january, and its -35 out, i have yet to see a carped engine that barked to life, and idled. I used to work with carbs. From a 289 with a lumpy cam that would hardly idle, to a nice smooth runing 351 in a bronco, I will never put a carb on anything unless there realy is no other option.

projectnitemare · Oct 19, 2007

To each their own, I also run a carb and if you didn't open the hood you wouldn't know it. I would much rather have done it fuel injected but didn't have the cash to buy new injectors, intakes and so on. If you are going to build the crap out of the engine it will be cheaper to use a carb due to the fact you will reach the limits of the stock injection pretty quickly. If it's going to stay pretty much stock go with the fuel injection,

Matt

85_Ranger4x4 · Oct 19, 2007

Ranger5.0 said:
lol, baddad, whne i go out at 4am in the middle of january, and its -35 out, i have yet to see a carped engine that barked to life, and idled. I used to work with carbs. From a 289 with a lumpy cam that would hardly idle, to a nice smooth runing 351 in a bronco, I will never put a carb on anything unless there realy is no other option.

We try keep fish out of our engines, that kinda helps. :taunt:

We have had pretty good luck with our carbed engines, my 2.8 is kind of tempermental but I need to make it adjustable after I ditched the feedback stuff. The 400 in my dads one ton starts quicker and runs just as smooth as my 5.4, I tested it once with both sitting out in the middle of a snowstorm.

We even used a carbed tractor to push snow and feed hay, it does have a manual choke but the little bugger doesn't miss a beat.

Edit: If the EFI setup is complete I would try to run it, if not I would probably go with the carb personally. Your truck came with EFI so you already have the fuel system in place for it.

Ranger5.0 · Oct 19, 2007

fish eh, ya, i dont think carp is a good alternative fuel sorce.

baddad457 · Oct 19, 2007

I've driven em when the temps were 20 degrees, all it takes is a few minutes to baby it till it will idle, and that's with NO choke. At -35, you're still going to have to let the engine warm up before driving anyway unless you like changing bearings more often than's needed. The one situation where EFI does shine over a carb is when it involves drastic elevation changes.

macdaddy31516 · Oct 19, 2007

the carb on my ride is as snappy as any efi, hands down :3gears:

:. do what makes you happy, if you dont ,then you will wonder what if.

Bent Bolt · Oct 19, 2007

Ranger5.0 said:
lol, baddad, whne i go out at 4am in the middle of january, and its -35 out, i have yet to see a carped engine that barked to life, and idled. I used to work with carbs. From a 289 with a lumpy cam that would hardly idle, to a nice smooth runing 351 in a bronco, I will never put a carb on anything unless there realy is no other option.

Thats what block heaters are for !! :icon_twisted:

rusty ol ranger · Oct 20, 2007

Go with a Carb.

One guy that used to be here tried using a EFI 302 on a 87 Ranger.....after going from a EFI 2.9L, last i knew 2 years later it was still sidelined due to electrical issues.

Its alot eaiser hooking up a throttle linkage, kickdown rod, and fuel line then the oodles and oodles of colorful speghettie that you have to hook up with EFI. For a very small benifit in the end.

Carburators run just as good as EFI as long as the Carb is in good shape. Alos, very rarely will a carb ever "Fail" to the point where it wont run at all.

The 400M in my dually with a Edelbrock 4bbl, starts and runs just as smooth and as quick as anything i have thats EFI. The old 351W in my LTD II always started no matter how cold it was.

My buddy has a Plow truck that only sees use in the winter.....its never not started, even in sub zero temps.

The only reason people some people make comments like "**** carbs" is because either 1-They had the money to have some pro set up his\her EFI....or 2- They bought the truck with the EFI shit already hooked up.....or 3 (and probely the biggest reason) there running under the impression newer is always better.....when in reality, its usually the other way around.

Newer is not better, just shiner.

later,
Dustin

baddad457 · Oct 20, 2007

rusty ol ranger said:
The only reason people some people make comments like "**** carbs" is because either 1-They had the money to have some pro set up his\her EFI....or 2- They bought the truck with the EFI shit already hooked up.....or 3 (and probely the biggest reason) there running under the impression newer is always better.....when in reality, its usually the other way around.

later,
Dustin

Or, 4. they aren't old enough to know what a carb is, does, how it works or how to tune one. :icon_confused:

And then when they think it's out of tune, they mistakenly think the carb is the problem, when in reallity it's an ignition problem. :icon_rofl:

Ranger5.0 · Oct 20, 2007

I do all my own work, some times i slip up and ask stupid questions on hear, but thats life. If you dont understand the wireing in your truck, and need to fal back in old technology, maybe its not that fact that im too young to understand carbs, maybe some people are too old to learn new technology lol. I have had a lot of fun with Carbs, when i was 18 i coble fuked a early 80's Bronco to wheel with, it had a carb. I helped a friend with a 289 powered mustang, again, with a carb. My last DD had a carb. This truck was the first to have efi, i didnt understand it, so i learned it. Now im in the middle of swap # 2, so if somone does WANNA see how whats all in that spegettie of wires, i got a lotta pics.

Carb? EFI? What to choose.

Run lil' ricer RUN!!

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