LS-carb or fuel injected?????

[RdHuggr68]

I am toying with the idea of putting a carb on an LS3. I want to keep some old style look of the carb on my 68 Camaro but don't want to loose any performance from the LS3 either. Any suggestions?

[71RS/SS396]

If you like the old school look. Why not go with a carb intake and one of the aftermarket efi set-ups like Fast, MSD, Holley....etc? Then you'll have the best of both worlds.

[RdHuggr68]

Originally Posted by 71RS/SS396

If you like the old school look. Why not go with a carb intake and one of the aftermarket efi set-ups like Fast, MSD, Holley....etc? Then you'll have the best of both worlds.

I thought about that till I saw the price,not sure if I want to spend that much for an EFI setup.

[GregWeld]

It's a proven fact that you don't loose or gain performance between carb or EFI
You gain a lot of other good things going with EFI…

If you want to do it on a budget and just get it done -- go with a carb and the controller…


Once you have that intake manifold etc - you can then switch to a throttle body EFI (a wet system) if you want to down the road.

[71RS/SS396]

Originally Posted by RdHuggr68

I thought about that till I saw the price,not sure if I want to spend that much for an EFI setup.

I guess it really boils down to what's more important the looks or the performance. While the peak power is really not any different as Greg said, the performance throughout the rpm range is far better with efi. Carbs can only be maximized in a few areas of the rpm range and are only close everywhere else. The fuel around today is not formulated for a carb, there's no anti boiling agents anymore so vapor lock/fuel boiling is a bigger problem than it used to be with a carb.

[GregWeld]

EFI is the ONLY way to go --- for all around performance and drivability….. but it IS expensive to convert… so I get it when people just want to stick with a simple carb and distributor they have. But if you can swing it - EFI all the way.

I have the 8 stack IR set up on my '32 -- and also had it on my '56 Nomad - you could not have started these cars for months… (on battery tenders!) and go out and just reach through the window and turn the ignition and bam! They start up and idle immediately. Can't do that with a carb…

But EFI is far more costly than just switching an intake manifold. The benefits are many… and worth every penny… but they are far more complicated and costly. The new self tune systems out there are pretty straight forward installations and run beautifully and need no dyno time. So if it's just a street car - and you're not trying to get the last .001 at the drag strip - that's the way I'd lean <no pun intended -- LOL>

[hifi875]

After running a carb on my ls for 3 yrs I switched to the Holley terminator. Really does a good job!!!

[GregWeld]

WTF -- It's XMAS --- get all your friends and family to chip in and get you this for your carbureted intake manifold…


http://www.fuelairspark.com/fas/ez-e...-pump-kithtml/

[71RS/SS396]

Originally Posted by GregWeld

EFI is the ONLY way to go --- for all around performance and drivability….. but it IS expensive to convert… so I get it when people just want to stick with a simple carb and distributor they have. But if you can swing it - EFI all the way.

I have the 8 stack IR set up on my '32 -- and also had it on my '56 Nomad - you could not have started these cars for months… (on battery tenders!) and go out and just reach through the window and turn the ignition and bam! They start up and idle immediately. Can't do that with a carb…

But EFI is far more costly than just switching an intake manifold. The benefits are many… and worth every penny… but they are far more complicated and costly. The new self tune systems out there are pretty straight forward installations and run beautifully and need no dyno time. So if it's just a street car - and you're not trying to get the last .001 at the drag strip - that's the way I'd lean <no pun intended -- LOL>

Greg, the cost really depends on if the Op has the factory efi LS intake and throttle body, if he does then there's really no cost savings converting to a carb. The LS carb conversion kit with the intake and igntion box is $700+ and a decent carb will cost $400-$500 which adds up to the same price it would cost to buy the ecu, harness, and pedal from someone like Speartech. Now it won't give you the old school look but to me the overall performance is worth the looks.

[DaleTx]

Originally Posted by RdHuggr68

I am toying with the idea of putting a carb on an LS3. I want to keep some old style look of the carb on my 68 Camaro but don't want to loose any performance from the LS3 either. Any suggestions?

The big advantage of computer control EFI is that you can run higher compression, and a larger cam as compared to a carb set up... and still maintain good idle and drivability. And like Tim said...the formulation of the fuel is different today, and is designed for EFI engines and does not works as well in carbs.

I went with a single plane intake, port fuel injection, 4-barrel TB, and a GM ECM on my last build. It has the old school look... with all the performance gains of the fuel injection and computer control. GM Performance parts makes a single plane that fits the LS3 heads, and the LS7 heads... so you can run a carb or 4-barrel TB.

Decisions... decisions!