I'm new and still in learning mode. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each in your mind? Would you change your mind if doing another build? Why?
Thanks
Gary
Thanks
Gary
Carb or EFI? Which did you choose and why?
Sssnake Bit
41 - 49 of 49 Posts
"I just don't get the EFI comment regarding "starts everytime" if you guys had a problem with Carbs you should have either read Holley's book or fired your mechanic, I guess these comments come from the twisted up emmissions era where Detroit had everything wadded up - IF you don't need to worry about emissions just keep it simple - Edelbrock intake and a Holley Carb - get it set up by an expert and forget about it - got a little 600 single pump Holley on my 302 - guess what? starts everytime I hit the little red button."
I agree, I have a 67 Galaxie with a 289. Holley 670 Street Avenger, World Heads, DUI distributor, etc. I don't start the car at all during the winter here in RI, about from now till late April. All I have to do is put the pedal to the floor once, and the engine will start with less than a half revolution of the starter. Also doesn't smell like gas at all.
Now, having said that, my dad's Cobra is going to have the Mass Flow EFI system on it.
I agree, I have a 67 Galaxie with a 289. Holley 670 Street Avenger, World Heads, DUI distributor, etc. I don't start the car at all during the winter here in RI, about from now till late April. All I have to do is put the pedal to the floor once, and the engine will start with less than a half revolution of the starter. Also doesn't smell like gas at all.
Now, having said that, my dad's Cobra is going to have the Mass Flow EFI system on it.
Joined
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3,877 Posts
EFI . . . no worries.
I can drive from the Pacific Coast Highway to Denver Colorado without having any drivability problems. 22 miles per gallon with 3.73's and a T-5. Never have to worry about "float level" settings, or lubing the choke arm cause it binds. 75,000 miles with out a tuneup, go figure.
Doc
Just my 2 cents
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I can drive from the Pacific Coast Highway to Denver Colorado without having any drivability problems. 22 miles per gallon with 3.73's and a T-5. Never have to worry about "float level" settings, or lubing the choke arm cause it binds. 75,000 miles with out a tuneup, go figure.
Doc
Just my 2 cents
Shep is right, EFI is technically superior, but takes a lot of time to learn to tune. For example, if you think you can pop into the Tweecer the night UPS brings it and set your timing back 6 degrees at 1500 RPM, you are mistaken. There are probably 5 or 6 settings that control timing in the ECC -- all related and interact with one another. On the flip side, once you learn it, you can go in and set the timing exactly where you want it. Several members of the tweecer forum mentioned that they have been working on their tune for two years or more. (I suspect many people buy the Tweecer for its geek factor, rather than actually trying to make the car run better.)
Support for the Tweecer is pretty much nonexistent and there has not been a new release from STKR in a few years.
To my knowledge, Ford has also never officially released any documentation for its EFI systems, any Ford docs you see on the net were "borrowed". People figured out how it works by hacking into the computer, so you will probably never get a fully correct/complete answer to any questions you may have. Go to the Tweecer website and get the GUFB document, read thru it to see if its something that you want to tackle.
My take...
1. Supercharger or Turbo -- EFI no question, AEM computer.
2. Stock or very mild Engine - stock EFI, limited tuning required, a chip only at the most. Can probably get a decent tune thru mail order.
3. mid-level engine - EFI tuned by a pro, Tweecer if you want to devote time to it. Carb.
4. Radical Engine - Carb, AEM computer tuned by a pro
Don't get me wrong. I am a fan of EFI, my car had a radical engine with EFI, no matter what we did, we could not tune out the bucking. I worked offline with several members from the Tweecer forum and local folks for several months, no joy. In the interests of getting my car done, I switched over to carb, dropped the carb on, it started right up (and has every time since) no bucking, no problems out of the box. (Now about that dual quad setup....
)
The carb looks more period correct, but now my car needs a few minutes to warm up before driving off -- with a properly tuned EFI setup its start and go. Will dyno this weekend.
Ouch, soory to be so long winded.
Tony
Support for the Tweecer is pretty much nonexistent and there has not been a new release from STKR in a few years.
To my knowledge, Ford has also never officially released any documentation for its EFI systems, any Ford docs you see on the net were "borrowed". People figured out how it works by hacking into the computer, so you will probably never get a fully correct/complete answer to any questions you may have. Go to the Tweecer website and get the GUFB document, read thru it to see if its something that you want to tackle.
My take...
1. Supercharger or Turbo -- EFI no question, AEM computer.
2. Stock or very mild Engine - stock EFI, limited tuning required, a chip only at the most. Can probably get a decent tune thru mail order.
3. mid-level engine - EFI tuned by a pro, Tweecer if you want to devote time to it. Carb.
4. Radical Engine - Carb, AEM computer tuned by a pro
Don't get me wrong. I am a fan of EFI, my car had a radical engine with EFI, no matter what we did, we could not tune out the bucking. I worked offline with several members from the Tweecer forum and local folks for several months, no joy. In the interests of getting my car done, I switched over to carb, dropped the carb on, it started right up (and has every time since) no bucking, no problems out of the box. (Now about that dual quad setup....
)The carb looks more period correct, but now my car needs a few minutes to warm up before driving off -- with a properly tuned EFI setup its start and go. Will dyno this weekend.
Ouch, soory to be so long winded.
Tony
Joined
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11,831 Posts
just like a woman, an engine doesn't need to be "stacked" to be good looking. here is my basic 306 w/ carb and oval air cleaner.
by the way, how often do you shave?
every day = go EFI
whenever = go carb!
I went carb mostly because of the period correct look. And I like a clean engine compartment. But it's your choice and I have nothing against EFI.
Here's one comment I would make though. All the EFI guys here like to say that it's a "plug n play" or "starts everytime" or whatever. But in the 3+ years I've been hanging around, you'll see MANY more posts from the EFI guys (vs carb guys) trying to get their car started, or trouble shooting some code error, etc. My carbed engine started on the first crank, and has started on the first crank everytime since. So take a lot of these statements with a grain of salt.
Good luck,
Jeff
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Here's one comment I would make though. All the EFI guys here like to say that it's a "plug n play" or "starts everytime" or whatever. But in the 3+ years I've been hanging around, you'll see MANY more posts from the EFI guys (vs carb guys) trying to get their car started, or trouble shooting some code error, etc. My carbed engine started on the first crank, and has started on the first crank everytime since. So take a lot of these statements with a grain of salt.
Good luck,
Jeff
Joined
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1,326 Posts
lol - OK well there you go - I guess the answer to EFI or Carb is....
Yes....
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Good luck on whichever way you go and remember there are a whack of us on either side of the fence to help you out.
potato potato potato potato....
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Scott
Yes....
Good luck on whichever way you go and remember there are a whack of us on either side of the fence to help you out.
potato potato potato potato....
Scott
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