EFI or Carb'd??

[Will]

Sounds like you were decided before you started this thread.

You look well set to build yourself another 150hp 302, but for more money. I spent the first 2/3 of my life around engines like that. They are shit. At least if you went with the EFI you would learn something instead of just building the 10,000,000,000th copy of another wheezer pig.

 

[baddad457]

Will, both you and ranger44 have a lot left to learn in regards to carbs. You less than ranger44, but still your ignorance to a properly setup and tuned carbed motor is showing. 20 mpg is not a hard point to achieve. My Moms old 70 Delta 88 used to regularly pull down 18-20 mpg on the highway and that was with the 9 to 1 compressioned 455 topped with a Rochester 2 bbl. My Ranger's current 5.0 is also capable of this, and I don't have an overdrive transmission behind it. I've seen 16 mpg with the 331 sixpack on the highway in it. The current setup is An Explorer equivalent 5.0 (ported E7's being the only difference here) topped with a Ford A321 intake and Holley 570 SA carb. Starts and idles at 25* F with no choke. And it's not dumping fuel in the motor at any point in the rpm range. There's nothing bad about running one on the lean side either, just as long as it's not too lean. There's no secret to getting EFI like performance with a carb. Just use the long LSA EFI cam and a smallish carb. And there's nothing complicated about a Holley or Motorcraft carb. There is plenty complicated about a Rochester 4 bbl carb.

 

[Ranger44]

I really don't see the point in learning more about an obsolete technology.

If carbs were so great, then why did they pretty much die out in the mid-80's and replaced by Fuel Injection?

It is true that a carb can get good gas mileage, but it really doesn't have the adjustability of an efi system.

The fact that efi can adjust, is the reason my truck has stayed and will stay efi. I will never own a carbed vehicle and never will have the desire to.

I do say, to each his own.

 

[HoleshotKFX400]

When I did my truck, I looked at fuel injection like it was this big bad monster and i didnt know why anyone went that way. Well now that my truck is together with a carb, im going to be tearing it back apart to go fuel injection. Yeah carb is kinda easy to setup and have run okay... if your an average joe like me. But i think fuel injection might be harder to setup but alot better to tune. plus i want it for the 15lbs of air coming in thats not supposed to be there

 

[baddad457]

I really don't see the point in learning more about an obsolete technology.

If carbs were so great, then why did they pretty much die out in the mid-80's and replaced by Fuel Injection?

It is true that a carb can get good gas mileage, but it really doesn't have the adjustability of an efi system.

The fact that efi can adjust, is the reason my truck has stayed and will stay efi. I will never own a carbed vehicle and never will have the desire to.

I do say, to each his own.

Die out ? Funny Holley and Edelbrock seem to be holding on. As for adjustability, that depends on what system you use. EFI does shine in altitude changes, but that's about it. My Holleys run day in, day out with no adjustments for weather or seasonal changes. Same as EFI does. 99% of the problems atributed to carbs in tuning issues were ignition related. Points ignition was the main culprit. Ditch the points and 99% of your troubles go away.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I am starting with a carb and I would like to go to TBI fuel injection after I get the kinks worked out, IMO it is about the best of both worlds.

But unlike the OP's truck mine was originally carburated, which means major work to put in a regular EFI system. TBI has fewer sensors and requires lower fuel pressure, much like a carb and with the air cleaner on it you can't tell that it isn't one... a serious advantage for my 289. One thing I absolutly hate about EFI is how it covers up the engine.

The carb vs EFI battle will rage forever, they all have their +'s and -'s. I rake hay in July and blade snow in December with the same carb settings on my old tractor... and I would rank it right up there with a hammer for stupid reliability.

 

[dude772]

Ok guys. I got a free 302 and AOD tranny to swap into my ranger. It is an EFI out of an 85-86 LTD.

I say keep it efi, but loose the speed density system and go with a MAF system like in a mustang, or T-bird or f-150. May have came in more cars than that, but that what i know had it.

The speed density system doens't like modifications. and the MAF system in my opinion works better.

 

[Ranger44]

Die out ? Funny Holley and Edelbrock seem to be holding on. As for adjustability, that depends on what system you use. EFI does shine in altitude changes, but that's about it. My Holleys run day in, day out with no adjustments for weather or seasonal changes. Same as EFI does. 99% of the problems atributed to carbs in tuning issues were ignition related. Points ignition was the main culprit. Ditch the points and 99% of your troubles go away.

I meant in the main stream auto industry. I'm not seeing any newer Ford, Dodges, Chevy's, Toyotas, Nissans, or Hondas with Carbs on them.

It seems to me that Holley and Eldelbrock are not just carried by their carbs. They offer Fuel Injection Conversions, Intakes for EFI, and improved EFI systems, etc. Not to mention they have lots of other High Performance products.

You can like carbs. I'm not trying to take that away. But I hold my high opinoin that fuel injection is the mainstay, and will be my choice of carburetion.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

You can like carbs. I'm not trying to take that away. But I hold my high opinoin that fuel injection is the mainstay, and will be my choice of carburetion.

Ya gotta pick one, you can't have both EFI and carburation.

And if you want to get picky, plain EFI like you have isn't enough for emissions/economy anymore, now you have to have variable valve timing and variable engine displacement among other bells and whistles.

 

[Ranger44]

Do you actually know what carburetion means?

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Do you actually know what carburetion means?

To combine with carbon? It is a pretty broad term, for example going from a very controlled spill inside of an aluminum box (carburator) to making pop fizzy.

It was just a joke anyway

 

[baddad457]

To combine with carbon? It is a pretty broad term, for example going from a very controlled spill inside of an aluminum box (carburator) to making pop fizzy.

It was just a joke anyway

Judgiing from his comments on carbs, I doubt he has a sense of humor when it comes to this subject. He certainly hasn't run a well tuned, well put togehter (carb and intake choice)electronic ignitioned motor with one on it.

 

[Dangeranger3]

These are always fun threads to watch. IMHO if you want it to run right now, you can throw a carb (and other necessities) on it. If you want it to run well after finishing the setup, EFI is the way to go. If you just slap a carb on it you'll most likely spend a lot of time being frustrated and disappointed with the way it runs. My reasoning for this is that most who have to ask this question don't know how to fine tune a carb or know someone who does.




The real reason I had to post in this thread is 85 ranger4x4 really made me laugh with this statement.

I rake hay in July and blade snow in December with the same carb settings on my old tractor... and I would rank it right up there with a hammer for stupid reliability.

 

[Ranger44]

To combine with carbon? It is a pretty broad term, for example going from a very controlled spill inside of an aluminum box (carburator) to making pop fizzy.

It was just a joke anyway

It's actually the process of mixing air with fuel for the combustion process.

I'm sorry if I'm TOO serious. I just wanted to make sure, and I often do come off as a dick.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

These are always fun threads to watch. IMHO if you want it to run right now, you can throw a carb (and other necessities) on it. If you want it to run well after finishing the setup, EFI is the way to go. If you just slap a carb on it you'll most likely spend a lot of time being frustrated and disappointed with the way it runs. My reasoning for this is that most who have to ask this question don't know how to fine tune a carb or know someone who does.

Someone that asks this question probably isn't an EFI expert either...