Desert1667 wrote: QUOTE "As for carb, there is nothing wrong with a carb, but at that age, they are usually worn out. Carbs run fine and technically mix the fuel better than TBI."
I do not feel this statement is based on any fact. I have owned both in trucks and RV's, the "TBI" set up much more reliable and gas mileage is much better.
Desert
It is a well established fact that a carborator will mix the fuel better than TBI. The intake manifold designs have to be the same, because you are running a "wet" manifold, so you can not improve the intake until you run a dry intake - ie port injection. If your experience resulted in poor mileage and performance, it was because the carb was either worn or not set up correctly. TBI was created strictly to satisfy emissions. They toggle the mixture rich/lean to feed the catalytic converter. It was introduced for no other reason. As a matter of fact, until the '94 to '95 ECM, the "fine tuning" computer adjustments were very broad and did not have much resolution to the control of the mixture.
I used to laugh at my brother who during the winter would get the same mileage on his TBI pick up as I got in my carborated motorhome. Of course now I can do a little better than he can if I keep my foot out of it.
Ok, I respect your opinion ,just trying to relay my experience, My Carbureted 454's got 5 MPG, TBI engine got 9-11 MPG. I think from my past trucks and Rv's that is a worth while note , that all.
Its all good...
1983 Chevy 1 Ton Dooley 454 carb-5MPG
1987 Chevy 1 Ton Dooley 454 TBI-10MPG
1994 Southwind P30 454 TBI-9 MPG
Desert1667 wrote: QUOTE "As for carb, there is nothing wrong with a carb, but at that age, they are usually worn out. Carbs run fine and technically mix the fuel better than TBI."
I do not feel this statement is based on any fact. I have owned both in trucks and RV's, the "TBI" set up much more reliable and gas mileage is much better.
Desert
It is a well established fact that a carborator will mix the fuel better than TBI. The intake manifold designs have to be the same, because you are running a "wet" manifold, so you can not improve the intake until you run a dry intake - ie port injection. If your experience resulted in poor mileage and performance, it was because the carb was either worn or not set up correctly. TBI was created strictly to satisfy emissions. They toggle the mixture rich/lean to feed the catalytic converter. It was introduced for no other reason. As a matter of fact, until the '94 to '95 ECM, the "fine tuning" computer adjustments were very broad and did not have much resolution to the control of the mixture.
I used to laugh at my brother who during the winter would get the same mileage on his TBI pick up as I got in my carborated motorhome. Of course now I can do a little better than he can if I keep my foot out of it.
Ok, I respect your opinion ,just trying to relay my experience, My Carbureted 454's got 5 MPG, TBI engine got 9-11 MPG. I think from my past trucks and Rv's that is a worth while note , that all.
Its all good...
1983 Chevy 1 Ton Dooley 454 carb-5MPG
1987 Chevy 1 Ton Dooley 454 TBI-10MPG
1994 Southwind P30 454 TBI-9 MPG
IMO that's almost double the gas mileage
Desert
Desert you are correct. Carbs do not function as well as even a TBI system to the average driver. Dave may be correct in a technical sense the 15 seconds they are correctly adjusted but try driving a carbed engine for 150K miles and never touching it. I still have my first TBI vehicle (1986.5 Nissan pick up) it is ready no matter the temperature 23 years later and the injection system has not been touched.
I sent the carb to a rebuil shop... MARVELOUS!
Also found good spares (some "called" hi performance) in Summit Racing (they have E*V*E*R*Y*T*H*I*N*G! ) and consistently chevy are cheaper than ford parts.
with overheating, YES I had the problem... sent the rad to service and used watter-wetter (never past a little over half needdle).
no cracked headders, had to change the alt, buy a new high perf distributor from summit (NICE, plug and play!) added extra fan :-/
flushed and changed trans filter... added water trap and filters (also new carb filter).
future mods:
headders, 3.5" colector into a 4" tube to a 75" truck silencer then inmediatelly turn in front of stairs.
far future supermod::::
DIESELING! transplanting a International T444 (ford navistar) and a 5 speed close ratio allison tranny!
I I HAVE A DATE WITH ETERNITY, AND I DON´T WANT TO BE LATE!
I agree with those suggested MPFI and a four speed. I would add 4 wheel disk brakes and non catalyst emissions. No cat=more power. check out 93 thru 98 F53 chassis before buying a 1980s vintage. Price difference is $1,500 depending on condition.
TV 02' Chevy Silverado 3500 8.1 liter 4X4, Rancho 9000, Airlift Airbags 2 Honda EU3000,plus paralleling kit (6000 Watts peak!)
Old Rig (03' Lance 1161) Boy I missed it!
New Rig (05' Cedar Creek 37RDQS)
Second new Rig 1996 Damon Intruder 325B
Years ago ,when I worked for the telephone company I got a new '95 bucket truck ,GMC ,had the 454, 4 speed auto w/OD, weighed about 10k lbs. I averaged 8 mpg and the Ford turbo diesel bucket trucks would beat me in a drag race but it was pretty much trouble free for the 4 years that I had it.
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