Injection or carb

[1984dually]

Always a debate on which is better. Biggest debate seems to be the complex computer system is harder to find problems(it is) and cost a lot more to fix. Most will agree that drivability and cold weather starting is much better. Recently I installed a injected 8.1L in my 84 Dually. Last night it went to -23 at my house. Went down this morning and it started up after about 2 sec(standing outside the door). Never had that happen with a carb. Sure some will say they never had any problems starting a carb engine in that kind of weather but I am defiantly sold.

 

[77 K20]

Injection is the way to go for cold starting or when driving over high altitude passes.

 

[foamypirate]

Always a debate on which is better. Biggest debate seems to be the complex computer system is harder to find problems(it is) and cost a lot more to fix. Most will agree that drivability and cold weather starting is much better. Recently I installed a injected 8.1L in my 84 Dually. Last night it went to -23 at my house. Went down this morning and it started up after about 2 sec(standing outside the door). Never had that happen with a carb. Sure some will say they never had any problems starting a carb engine in that kind of weather but I am defiantly sold.

I'm a big fan of fuel injection too! That's why I converted my 84' over to TBI. Was about 26* out the other morning (about as cold as it gets here) and it fired right up. I love not having to fiddle around, pump the pedal or hold it down to keep the truck running, etc.

 

[RetroC10Sport]

80% of FI problems can be diagnosed with a paperclip. 95% with a relatively inexpensive cable, laptop and free diagnostic program.

 

[77 K20]

I'm a big fan of fuel injection too! That's why I converted my 84' over to TBI. Was about 26* out the other morning (about as cold as it gets hear) and it fired right up. I love not having to fiddle around, pump the pedal or hold it down to keep the truck running, etc.

It was 10 below up here the other day. Had to take my square to town. It started then died. Started it again, but had to keep my foot on the gas pedal slightly to keep it running. After a few minutes it then was idling fine... but then sputtered a bit when put into gear. Took a few miles of driving it before things started feeling "normal". The driveline fluids I'm sure were not wanting the truck to roll down the road.

 

[gpmorgan]

FI's are great for cold starting, never have to touch the throttle, runs good when driving cold. A carb with a properly set up choke works well also. The only thing is that you have to pump it before starting to set the fast idle. Wouldn't do much good to install a remote start. Lol.

 

[Driver4r]

It was 10 below up here the other day. Had to take my square to town. It started then died. Started it again, but had to keep my foot on the gas pedal slightly to keep it running. After a few minutes it then was idling fine... but then sputtered a bit when put into gear. Took a few miles of driving it before things started feeling "normal". The driveline fluids I'm sure were not wanting the truck to roll down the road.

Oh god, mines a BITCH to get idleing/running right in the cold. The cams got some lope to it and i have idle set around 550-600. Under acceleration shes a bitch to keep running cold, but the higher axle ratios hurt that a little bit. Once warm she runs like a dream.

But i love the sound my exhaust makes cold, its alot more throaty cold.

 

[Boone83K10]

I just got my choke setup perfect on my holley 650. They are really easy to set up.once you understand how they operate. Mine was not pulling the plate open far enough by vacuum pull down so I bent the linkage where the manual said and now it fires up and idles at 1500, and comes down when warming up.

 

[Swims350]

I hate injection and am going to switch my tbi over to carb.

we never have any issues with cold starting, big cams or anything and we never use a choke either.

I tried and trid to diagnose my tbi issues to save it with no luck so I'm scrapping it all.

 

[89Suburban]

Big fan of unmolested, factory TBI systems.

 

[Driver4r]

A 540 With a Healthy cam and a 1050Holley with no choke is not easy to start Swims.

 

[Swims350]

maybe not but none of our small blocks with chokes wired open have had any problems, big cam, small cam or stock.

 

[Mr Clean]

Going with a FI conversion kit from FAST, or Holley (haven't decided yet) it a lot easier to hook up, don't need a computer, it's self learning, but they are not cheap. The kit I'm going to get for my 383 is 2600.00, but that is everything you need to convert to FI, and it still looks like a carb.

 

[Irishman999]

Personally I am a fan of both but lean in the fuel injected direction. It all comes down to the vehicles purpose. Both systems are great if you apply them to the right conditions.

If I bolted a big 750 demon carb on my big block I just built I would get a ton more power out of my little truck but its going to stay TBI. I am going to drive the truck around daily so I like the consistency of TBI. Down the road it will get upgraded but for now its a perfect system for something you drive every day.

Carbs work just as good, I drove the 85 around in the cold alot without problems. Both systems require half a brain to make them run right, I would not say one is better than the other given all the variables. For something mildly performance oriented and driven alot you just cant go wrong with fuel injection.

 

[MrMarty51]

maybe not but none of our small blocks with chokes wired open have had any problems, big cam, small cam or stock.

Bringer a bit further north.