Carb curiosity.....

Topic: Carb curiosity..... (Read 7659 times) previous topic - next topic

Carb curiosity.....

November 03, 2014, 08:13:41 PM

Just what exactly does it take to go to a carb? Does anyone have a detailed list? I was having this thought today. PLUS, it MIGHT be cool to have my hood an actual Ram Air functioning piece. Just curios. Enlighten my my peeps....

Carb curiosity.....

Reply #1 – November 03, 2014, 08:35:49 PM

I'm carbed. Now going back to efi. To go to carb Is easy but for one who changes there mind alot and may want to go back to efi it's not that easy. I took a Sawzall and cut all wires on pass side firewall and pushed them in and pulled computer and put it in a box. Found keyed on power used msd ready to run distributor and 6al. Key power to fuel pump. Then bypass fuel regulator to carb. Lost water temperature and tach, oil press gauges

Carb curiosity.....

Reply #2 – November 03, 2014, 09:00:39 PM

Does the tach go through the computer? I wouldn't cut the harnesses. I'd just remove them and fab a panel for the firewall. If I go this route, there will be no turning back. I would need to know all the details. What wires to tap into, ...everything.

Carb curiosity.....

Reply #3 – November 03, 2014, 09:30:58 PM

You would still have to tune a carburetor car just like an EFI car. It is cheaper to do yes but the EFI car will have better drivability.

Carb curiosity.....

Reply #4 – November 03, 2014, 09:38:04 PM

With your setup, what would be the gain? I'm not trying to be a tool, just a legitimate question.

I prefer the driveablity of EFI in my daily drivers, just because I just don't have the knack for getting carbs tuned right. They either stumble on takeoff, run like when it's cold out (my current issue on my 82, lol), not very good on gas, etc. Some people have the knack and can make a carb sing. I am not that guy, heh.

Carb curiosity.....

Reply #5 – November 03, 2014, 10:03:14 PM

I moved to a county with no emissions. I keep getting drawn back to the carbed intake pages of the hotrod mags i got laying around.

Only thing that would really bug me is the gas mileage. I have a 100 mile plus commute daily.

Carb curiosity.....

Reply #6 – November 03, 2014, 10:08:45 PM

Well the bottom line is simple. EFI will outperform out drive and run better than any carb. That is newer systems will. But with the systems on these cars it is a toss up. OBD1 Ford systems as like Chevy and Chrysler are a bit to be desired. They are batch fire and basically stone age systems. But with that said EFI is better by far but not to far. Carbs are simple they work and at WOT make the same HP as the EFI systems we are dealing with. Now modern EFI systems are a different animal. If i were you i would keep the setup and fix it or go STAND ALONE and that is the CATS BUTT. By the way you need a wide band Vinny. Without one you are in the dark as to what you engine is doing. Most people do not understand this concept. A/F ratio gauge is the most important gauge a car can have.

Carb curiosity.....

Reply #7 – November 03, 2014, 10:10:13 PM

I'm doing research to see if it's a swap I may decide to do. Looking for what it takes to do it, what parts are involved, and the little bits to make it all happen.

I do understand that a carb needs tuning as well. I know a lot of guys in this area that can handle that easily. I am not one to rush into a decision like this without doing some research and weighing the options. There are no Fox body EFI guys around. I'm on my own with the EFI stuff here on this (with help from you guys here on the forum).

I still have to run codes on the current setup as soon as I get the time (Time has become super hard to come by around here with the new job position). The last time I ran codes when it was doing the same thing, it didn't show anything that helped. Maybe this time will be different. But I am tired of messing with the EFI. Sensors and the rest on the old Bird. The thought of making that scoop in the hood actually functional for ram Air is also quite appealing. I'm going to continue on my quest to get this bloody car to run as it should, and the carb swap, IF it happens, wouldn't be until next early summer. I still gotta finish paying for my heads first. But in the meantime, I'm gathering a parts list, and information on the swap.

I have been told about drivabiity being better with an EFI car, BUT, with good parts, I've also seen VERY dependable carbed cars. Our winter here is about 6 weeks long. We don't have the long periods of bad weather and all to tend to, and I have seen many quality, great running carbed cars here. I would keep everything else as it is. Just lose the EFI, gain a carb. Then, grab a piece of aluminum, fab a factory looking panel for the hood, and also fab a factory appearing air cleaner for Ram Air. Also, if all works out the way I think it will, I'll be getting a different car next year and the Sport will be for weekends and fun driving. Losing it's daily driver status.

Carb curiosity.....

Reply #8 – November 03, 2014, 10:14:30 PM

Tom, we can go all over the Carb vs. EFI thing all day, but I just want to gather info. My budget is not as big as yours, I do not have access to anything and everything like you do. You have to think like a guy on a tiny budget, with a normal house garage, not a shop with all of the diagnostic equipment and other means that a shop for hire has. If I had the means, it would have a pro built 5.8 with EFI and all the love money can buy and dyno tuning, etc. That's not the world I am in.

Carb curiosity.....

Reply #9 – November 03, 2014, 10:17:42 PM

Ok

1 Manifold
2 Carb
3 Distributor
4 Pressure regulator to drop the fuel pressure or replace the pump with a low pressure electric one.
5 Full weekend to convert it
6 Air cleaner of your choice.

Carb curiosity.....

Reply #10 – November 03, 2014, 10:23:34 PM

Yeah, that's pretty much the list I have. I gotta get all the little details on the rest. Fuel pick up, keeping the gauges functional, what all would be lost without the ECM...if anything...all those little bits.

By the way, Tom, no offense intended on the previous post. I always appreciate any help you give, and welcome your info at all times.

Carb curiosity.....

Reply #11 – November 04, 2014, 12:02:12 AM

I really don't think going carbed is a solution. You will be even more aggravated if the issue persists after swapping over. Daily driver or not, I'd stick with EFI on a factory-equipped EFI vehicle. The computer HELPS your setup run better - the o2 sensors help it know all the small variables of your setup, and adjust for them. With a carb, small variables can have an even larger impact on how your car runs (or not).

There's always the option of a drop-in AEM computer in place of the EEC-IV. It can be as dumbed-down or feature-rich as you'd like. They even have an addon to go coil on plug, and ditch the distributor. The thing sells for around $600 on eBay.

Carb curiosity.....

Reply #12 – November 04, 2014, 09:17:11 AM

Vinnie,

I would hate to see you convert to a carb but I know how you like to research things to here you go. It is as easy as Tom's list. To keep your gauges functional you will need to get an electrical wiring diagram of your car (EVT should be available to you from one of the guys here) as the tach, oil pressure, water temp all come from the ten pin connectors (salt and pepper shakers) on the injection harness. Doing this to a T-Bird is functionally and electronically (for the most part) no different than a Fox Mustang so I would suggest that you do some lurking over on the Corral to get a more defined list of what is needed. Some guys have done it with the stock high pressure fuel pumps and others have converted over to a Holley blue or black pump.

With that being said, dyno time is usually around $75 an hour and you could simply have them look at the AF on the car for $75 and how it is performing over the rpm range with a pull or two. It may simply be that you need a chip.

Darren

Carb curiosity.....

Reply #13 – November 04, 2014, 10:30:36 AM

did i miss something? you say youre thinking of swapping to fix an issue, but what exactly is the issue?

Carb curiosity.....

Reply #14 – November 04, 2014, 11:51:33 AM

Actually, the biggest reason I'm THINKING about the swap is this....planning on getting another car next year for all the driving to work and so on. I would really like to make the hood a functional Ram Air piece. I really like the air cleaners on the old Torinos and Stangs with the ram air hoods. Now, IF that also relieves me of a lot of electronic gremlins and issues. That would make me very happy as well. I am tired of dealing with the isues I'm having. Actually, I'm sick of trying to figure the issues out. Funds are always extremely limited to say the least for this car, making it even harder. I would love to be able to afford the high dollar parts and management sytems available, but the bottom line, not happening. SO, something will have to give. Carb tuners are easy to find around here as there are a couple of local tracks with HUGE followings in this area. No EFI Fox guys. Just Fox carb people. Now, IF I decide to go carb, it wouldn't happen til next summer. Time to gather parts over months, make plans, and go from there. I have another thread that details the issues I'm having with the Sport.

I am not asking for a debate on carb verses EFI. I'm researching the swap, then I'll look into the work to be done and parts for that swap, and go from there. I like my EFI when it's right. It hasn't been right for two or three months. I've owned carbed and EFI cars. I've actually had more issues with EFI than a carb setup. IF I go carb, it'll be a Demon carb on an Edelbrock intake, and I will find an appropriate air cleaner to fit the ram air cause.

It's a thought at this moment. Not written in stone. IF I can get this "bleeping" car running right, maybe my way of thinking will change, maybe not. But for now....research.

My list of parts consists of the following at this time

-low pressure fuel pump
-Carburetor
-intake manifold
-air cleaner
-Some fuel line
-throttle cable
-distributor
-Maybe a 6AL box....(unsure of this for sure)

I rarely make decisions quickly. I'll flip flop back and forth until I am either happy with EFI or I decide that a carb set up IS the way I want to go. As I stated, in the mean time, I am continuing my quest to get the current EFI stuff working as it should. I appreciate you guys on this forum. Always have. Best info I have ever gotten for my car over all these years.