EFI or Carb

[JMiller]

May I ask how long ago was that? FWIU Brian Harris retired, due to health issues, a couple years ago. Anyway, a mail order tune is not the way to go. You need to data log, tune, rinse and repeat until you get your VE tables right. Then go for performance!

I do remember him saying something about that. I think he had it on his website too.

 

[618 Syndicate]

True...with boost. Unboosted, you don't get a whole lot more. 355's might squeeze out 400 but you are going to pound 5 or 600 out of it. 383 you might get 450 to 500 but still not 600. Boosted, it just depends what you can afford. 1,000 hp is simple these days.

355 well over 450 https://www.motortrend.com/how-to/0812chp-chevy-355-small-block-engine-build/
and that's a street motor.
Plenty of high spinning drag race n/a small blocks making 600+

 

[Frank Enstein]

These 3 items will get your Edelbrock carb set up.

Wix Filters 33054 WIX Filters Fuel Filters | Summit Racing

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SA Design SA130P SA Design How to Rebuild and Modify Carter/Edelbrock Carburetors Manual | Summit Racing

Free Shipping - SA Design How to Rebuild and Modify Carter/Edelbrock Carburetors Manual with qualifying orders of $109. Shop Reference Books at Summit Racing.

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Performance Tool W80594 Performance Tool Vacuum and Pressure Test Kits | Summit Racing

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[Frank Enstein]

I can make a carb sing and dance but I can't tune one 200 times per second.

That's where EFI wins every time.

I recommend EFI more and more often. The price of carbs is through the roof and there are 3 other guys on the planet besides me that are willing to take the time to tune a carb. I'm taking the carb off Frank just as soon as I can. Frank starts quicker than any vehicle I have ever had. The carb is completely wrong for the application but I have it tuned well enough for now. A thermac air cleaner is a huge advantage with a carb or EFI without a MAP sensor.

When you are happy with how it runs close the hood and go get ice cream!

 

[Supercharged111]

When you are happy with how it runs close the hood and go get beer! Lots and lots of it!

Fixed that for ya.

 

[618 Syndicate]

When you are happy with how it runs close the hood and go get ice cream!

Fixed that for ya.

Or....

Frozen Pints | Craft Beer Ice Cream

 

[Frank Enstein]

Fixed that for ya.

Thankyewvurrymuch!

 

[letitsnow]

I can make a carb sing and dance but I can't tune one 200 times per second.

That's where EFI wins every time.

I recommend EFI more and more often. The price of carbs is through the roof and there are 3 other guys on the planet besides me that are willing to take the time to tune a carb. I'm taking the carb off Frank just as soon as I can. Frank starts quicker than any vehicle I have ever had. The carb is completely wrong for the application but I have it tuned well enough for now. A thermac air cleaner is a huge advantage with a carb or EFI without a MAP sensor.

When you are happy with how it runs close the hood and go get ice cream!

I am curious - what do you think that you will gain by switching to efi? Please explain in detail, if you would.

I like fuel injection, but often wonder if our (used the way that I use mine) trucks are too low tech to even really benefit from efi vs a well tuned carb.

 

[clgodwin79]

EFI can be tuned much better and efficiently. But we’re talking 0411 or standalone ECU stuff. And it costs a LOT more to get the good setup.

I would love to get a nice kit for my 350 Vortec. But who can justify spending almost $2k on a kit when again, a full LS with more power can be had for less $$ with the same amount of adjustability??

To each their own. There’s no right or wrong answer. Carb is better for quick, easy, and cheap. EFI is better if you’re wanting benefits of OBD-II and more deep level tuning.

There’s a reason why people put LS’s into everything under the Sun, including German and Japanese cars. You literally can’t get more power for your $$. Much less direct swap in and wiring kits for so many vehicles and transmissions.

But the benefit that we all have is that the LS is a GM engine. So nothing to worry about as far as purists go.

I feel pretty positive that rather you’re an LS swap kinda guy or not, that most of us would love the chance to buy our exact trucks that we already have even more if someone had already completed an LS swap and done it right.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[L31MaxExpress]

EFI can be tuned much better and efficiently. But we’re talking 0411 or standalone ECU stuff. And it costs a LOT more to get the good setup.

I would love to get a nice kit for my 350 Vortec. But who can justify spending almost $2k on a kit when again, a full LS with more power can be had for less $$ with the same amount of adjustability??

To each their own. There’s no right or wrong answer. Carb is better for quick, easy, and cheap. EFI is better if you’re wanting benefits of OBD-II and more deep level tuning.

There’s a reason why people put LS’s into everything under the Sun, including German and Japanese cars. You literally can’t get more power for your $$. Much less direct swap in and wiring kits for so many vehicles and transmissions.

But the benefit that we all have is that the LS is a GM engine. So nothing to worry about as far as purists go.

I feel pretty positive that rather you’re an LS swap kinda guy or not, that most of us would love the chance to buy our exact trucks that we already have even more if someone had already completed an LS swap and done it right.

Just my 2 cents.

LS is not my cup of tea. All noise and no real grunt. Changes a bit with forced induction.