[Procharged 347]

i have close to $4500 in my injection system

[rpatt1]

Hi Reverend,

Here is an example somewhere in the middle. My Pa-in-law had a 73 Maverick. He bought a 90 HO 5.0 roller motor off Craigslist - all the EFI/harness/computer. His Mav did not have the in tank High pressure pump - the existing fuel line setup would need to be replaced to support a high pressure system and return line.

He weighed the options, then ended up converting the roller motor to carb - he had an existing early 302 timing cover which included the fuel pump. And also swapped to the early waterpump etc.

Pa was also swayed by the old Carcraft article on the 400 horse junkyard 302 - where they took a 90 5.0 and pulled the EFI off it and swapped on a weiand intake and a holley carb and got MORE horsepower than the factory EFI on the same shortblock! It could be argued that if a guy swapped injectors and did some other tuning work the EFI system could have bested the carb setup - but my point is - at what cost?

I agree if you have a full existing operational EFI - it is likely better to stick with it - and mod away. If you do not - it is most likely a lot cheaper to go carb.

[ReverendDexter]

Originally Posted by rpatt1 Hi Reverend, Here is an example somewhere in the middle. My Pa-in-law had a 73 Maverick. He bought a 90 HO 5.0 roller motor off Craigslist - all the EFI/harness/computer. His Mav did not have the in tank High pressure pump - the existing fuel line setup would need to be replaced to support a high pressure system and return line. He weighed the options, then ended up converting the roller motor to carb - he had an existing early 302 timing cover which included the fuel pump. And also swapped to the early waterpump etc. Pa was also swayed by the old Carcraft article on the 400 horse junkyard 302 - where they took a 90 5.0 and pulled the EFI off it and swapped on a weiand intake and a holley carb and got MORE horsepower than the factory EFI on the same shortblock! It could be argued that if a guy swapped injectors and did some other tuning work the EFI system could have bested the carb setup - but my point is - at what cost? I agree if you have a full existing operational EFI - it is likely better to stick with it - and mod away. If you do not - it is most likely a lot cheaper to go carb.

Then again, look at the GRM $200X challenge. Most, if not all, cars in that use some version of megasquirt and convert TO fuel injection.

[rpatt1]

I really appreciate that this thread picked up nicely!!

Reverend - I agree with you - any turbo/blown/nitrous system should be EFI - whether Megasquirt or other. But it is spendy.

My entire original point was about bang for the buck. For a few hundred bucks you can have a low maintenance butt kicking Normally Aspirated Mustang or Ford.

[1slo5.0]

Originally Posted by rpatt1 I realize this thread is several months old - but dang I wish I could get in on it! I was a big proponent of EFI until the budget hit me. A brand new Holley street avenger is only 319 to 408 depending on CFM and/or spread bore vs square bore from Summit. A used craigslist aluminum intake is $100 or less. A brand new weiand stealth is 160. That's it -You are done. No sensors - no high pressure in tank fuel pump - no $500 EFI wiring harness - nada. Have you driven one of these carbs? They are freakin' amazing out of the box. A tiny bit of time adjusting the electric choke and that's all. The car starts and runs awesome. A friend of mine with a huge pile of muscle cars - turned me on to this. He tuned his EFI stuff a long time before it worked as well as the basic carb stuff. And the EFI stuff costs way more! It also worries me to have that high pressure fuel pump on all the time. I know those inertia switches are supposed to be safe - but a mechnical pump definately stops when the motor stops. I don't want to sound like a salesman for Holley street avengers - I think the other carbs out there can be tuned fine - just depends on what you are used to. I am just not that comfortable with the dangling needle like metering rods on the Rochesters - but I know guys that can make them work awesome too. Bottom line - for the mild to moderately hot street/strip work - My money will be spent on a carb system - and the money i saved over EFI can be spent on chassis improvements. Cheers, Rusty

The cost factor depends on what you are working with and what you are starting with. If you are starting with an EFI Mustang, EFI is probably going to be cheaper. However there are many variables that can change this.

Carbureted cars run awesome when they are tuned properly. No question there.

Buying a $100 craigslist intake and a Holley avenger carb aren't always practical. If I were to put an Edelbrock Performer intake from craigslist and a Holley avenger carb on my black notch back it would have went from a 9.30 car to an 11.0 car. But on some cars it might work ok.

As far as the pump being on all the time, the factory electric pumps shut off when the engine shuts off when the engine stops running just like a mechanical pump. The inertia switch has nothing to do with it, that is just for impact protection.

Originally Posted by rpatt1 I am just saying carbs and their long term support are WAAAy cheaper.

Not always.....

[1slo5.0]

Originally Posted by rpatt1 Pa was also swayed by the old Carcraft article on the 400 horse junkyard 302 - where they took a 90 5.0 and pulled the EFI off it and swapped on a weiand intake and a holley carb and got MORE horsepower than the factory EFI on the same shortblock! It could be argued that if a guy swapped injectors and did some other tuning work the EFI system could have bested the carb setup - but my point is - at what cost?

Magazine articles are usually far from reality or truth. The point of the Weiand intake and holley carb making more horsepower is not a good point at all. Its very easy to get more horsepower out of an engine that is buttoned up tight to pass emissions testing and pass all governing laws. Bolting on any aftermarket EFI intake will produce more horsepower than the factory intake also. Different injectors are not needed. Fuel injectors don't make horsepower, they support horsepower. You don't need to upgrade injectors until you start pushing your current injectors to their horsepower limitations. So going back to cost, what really costs more? Converting an EFI car to carb or buying a different EFI intake?