Carbs V injection?
Discussion
Doubt it Cliff, there's just no contest in the efficiency between the two - how could a 4 barrel carb on a manifold competer with multiport or direct fuel injection for each cylinder?
IMHO (set up correctly) fuel injection = more power + more efficiency + better economy.
It's also capable of adapting to some extent to different atmospheric conditions.
Carbs are actually much more complicated than they appear. I know the temptation is to think they're simple because they're mechanical but so much is dependant on primary and secondary jet sizes, vacuum operated parts, the weather (!)
Have you heard of racers that change the jets according to temperature and humidity to get the best quarter mile.
IMHO there's just no place for technology as old as that any more. And to get back to the old musclecar discussion slightly, just look at the performance of say, an LS1 c5 VS a 1970 LT1, and the modern car is much more drivable and probably uses half the fuel.
And technology just gets better all the time. I wish I could change my fuel injection for s more modern setup as TPI (85-96) is so dated now, although that underwent significant changes, especially on the LT1 when it became true multiport in 1994.
Occasionally you see a C4, usually an 84, that has been converted to a carb setup. Personally I'd still rather have an 84 using the old crap crossfire injection than a carb, or convert it to TPI. People only do it as a cop out, no other reason. (Think of all the digital dash readouts that won't work anymore!)
No contest. P.S. If you were thinking of doing that to your vette you should pay a forfeit - i.e. donate your car to me, chairman of the fuel injection appreciation society.
IMHO (set up correctly) fuel injection = more power + more efficiency + better economy.
It's also capable of adapting to some extent to different atmospheric conditions.
Carbs are actually much more complicated than they appear. I know the temptation is to think they're simple because they're mechanical but so much is dependant on primary and secondary jet sizes, vacuum operated parts, the weather (!)
Have you heard of racers that change the jets according to temperature and humidity to get the best quarter mile.
IMHO there's just no place for technology as old as that any more. And to get back to the old musclecar discussion slightly, just look at the performance of say, an LS1 c5 VS a 1970 LT1, and the modern car is much more drivable and probably uses half the fuel.
And technology just gets better all the time. I wish I could change my fuel injection for s more modern setup as TPI (85-96) is so dated now, although that underwent significant changes, especially on the LT1 when it became true multiport in 1994.
Occasionally you see a C4, usually an 84, that has been converted to a carb setup. Personally I'd still rather have an 84 using the old crap crossfire injection than a carb, or convert it to TPI. People only do it as a cop out, no other reason. (Think of all the digital dash readouts that won't work anymore!)
No contest. P.S. If you were thinking of doing that to your vette you should pay a forfeit - i.e. donate your car to me, chairman of the fuel injection appreciation society.
Esprit 2.2 turbos were carburetted in the UK market until relatively recently (in terms of 1976 to 2004!) although fuel injected for USA. The carbs gave razor sharp throttle response as they weren't shy about dumping large quantities of fuel into the engine for acceleration. Emissions suffered as a result. I think that the latest generation of FI systems is pretty darn good although it p**ses me off that so many cars, even those with big engines, have poor throttle response and/or won't let go of the rev's when you lift off. I think this has more to do with the emissions set-up than any fundamental limitation of FI systems.
We Corvette owners are so lucky. Either Ecklers or Mid America has them for less than you get one for an Escort! (I think they're about $150, check their site, you need to send your old core).
Mind you if you have an old Nissan worth about 100 quid and you need an ECU costing a grand you'd be happy to scrap the thing!
Mind you if you have an old Nissan worth about 100 quid and you need an ECU costing a grand you'd be happy to scrap the thing!
I think the last carburetted Esprit was made in the early nineties... My US 86 model has Bosch mechanical fuel injection, though from what I've heard carburetted cars are more reliable and have better throttle response. I might upgrade to the later GM EFI system (used in US cars after 1988)
Dan
Dan
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