Carb vs EFI... a decision I am contemplating

I have a custom built Braswell Carb that I have never been happy with... Seems that it is either too rich... too lean... bad idle quality or will bog out when going on the transbrake at the line... (lost a couple races because of it)...

I've sent it off to so-called "experts" and fiddled with it myself and quite frankly, getting quite frustrated with it..

In talking with Rich (EFI FASTMAN)... we've discussed converting to the Holley system and of course, Rich will bend over backwards to make sure it is tuned to optimum performance..

I mostly bracket race in S/ST 10.90 @ 149-ish... Have done a few all out races at 155-ish MPH... The car has a Dedenbear disc style throttle stop and I'm debating whether to throw in the towel and convert to EFI or stay with the carb...

I know I will have to replace the throttle stop with a linkage style, will need a new fuel pump and of course, the install of the Holley system... Approx cost will be slightly over $2400.00, but can sell the Brasswell, Dedenbear and BG400 pump to help recover some of the cost..

Would you do it... or would you continue to try and make the carb work? and why?

I'm very interested in your post also. What does the 2400 include, when I priced it out seems the total cost was quit a bit higher than that. Assuming your going MPI and not Throttle-body.

Send me you email and I'll send you a link to my latest Holley online Training.

efi all the way. take a look our crank trigger mounts for 36-1 trigger wheels and the cps bushings for running distributorless ignition. there is no comparison between EFI and a carb. consistency in all conditions and auto adjustment for optimum performance from the EFI.

I would need to double check with Rich, to see exactly what was quoted.. But if I recall correctly, it was $1700-ish for the Holley system with TB...

$500-$600 for an EFI fuel pump
$200 for a linkage style throttle stop...

It might be slightly more when I get the parts list together... but that is the number that is stuck in my head right now

I've heard from multiple sources that no matter how much money they throw at an EFI system, they can not get consistency when using a throttle stop...

Carbs if right are generally faster then aftermarket TBI just a thought.

That would be my concern...getting the throttle stop to work correctly.

Saying you do convert to EFI, what about alcohol too?

If you go with an advanced system like the Holley HP then you can also use it to control the ignition and you can use it for data acquisition. So you really get a lot more than just a carb replacement.

My Duster is going together with a Holley Dominator system. I'm ditching the dash and will run everything off of the Holley Digital Dash.

Yep, and EASY to tune if you don't mind installing a wide-band and making a few tweaks............

I just went with the Holley Dominator EFI. While there was a cost associated with it, it's amazing. Being able to control exactly what, and when the system does things, is awesome.

Send it to Thumpercarb, he cleaned the idle up on my Prosystems 950HP, it just explodes off the line now.

Before he worked on it nothing I did would help, now it's just a little tweak on the idle screws...And I'm at 7000 to 8000 foot DA

I think giving Thumper a shot at fixing your carb is worth a try. You could still always sell the carb if things don't work out. If it does work, you are ahead of the game. Someone on here posted about his EFI system going down, losing Comm. I don't remember if he even posted about getting it fixed. Just something else to think about with EFI.

I have been very happy with my EFI stuff, I haven't ever run this motor with a carb so I don't know if it is faster or not. I do know I have zero plans to go back to a carb. I can't speak for throttle stop stuff but my car has been incredibly consistent with the fuel injection.

Thumper can get a carb 'happening' for less than half the EFI money. When EFI gets close to carb prices and uses a dry manifold, I might just consider it.

I am in the same situation, I have a good running carb that I have put a lot of time into tuning. It runs good, but still has some compromises at some points in the fuel curve I can't work out. My dad switched from a good running six pack to EFI and can't say enough good things about the swap, best thing he has done to the car. I would go with EFI and never look back. That is my plan

The EFIstore.com Brian Macey is the best there is

If you buy the Holley system and Rich is helping you, you could probably run the stop with the EFI box. Legal? Don't know but does anyone? Do away with the MSD system as well! Do the same thing AndyF is doing and you will be a lot smarter than the rest of us Jeepmon. That is the badd mamba jamba there! Fastmanefi is pretty good his damn self!

Three years ago, I was in the same spot as you are. I have lots of carb stuff but just decided to start moving to EFI. I know I won't make any extra HP but I hope to not give up too much either. I'm 90% street and 10% strip so the advantages of cold startup, hot restart, no distributor ignition and closed-loop learning are just too compelling for me to stick with carbs. Tuning everything with a handheld (FAST EZ style) or with a laptop computer is just way easier and offers flexibility as you change things. Changing jets, pump shot cams and then messing with timing curves with springs, weights and welded up slots is just too Oldschool for 2017.

My carb stuff idles a bit rich and I'm getting under 7 miles to the gallon on my 500" Wedge with a decent sized solid cam and Mighty Demon 850 annular boosters carb (no choke). I guess that the 4.88's in the Dana don't help much on the highway! My plugs are heat range cold and I'm running a MSD Digital 6+ for ignition that burns any extra carbon off the plugs and keeps them from looking rich. My next step should be more carb tuning to lean it out but I guess I'm getting lazy. Since it's finally running pretty good, I figure that must be the sign that it's time to start all over again with EFI

I started out with FAST EZ EFI 1.0 and now I'm moving to FAST XFI-XIM stuff just because I was able to pick it up cheap as another guy moved to Holley EFI. I have three kids in college so the Mopar Fun Money Fund is pretty lean. The newer Holley stuff seems to be the way to go. And FITech stuff is making a push after some earlier hiccups. I also like the AEM stuff but that seems aimed more towards the Tuner crowd.

Get some good books on EFI and start reading ... there's lots of knowledge base on sensors and system interaction that you have to get up to speed on just so you have an idea what all the acronyms mean and how all the little things work together as an integrated system. There are lots of frustrating little places where things can go wrong with EFI so jumping in for the first time can be difficult. FastMan has lots of experience with EFI and can help you get back on track when you start to get lost. AndyF has really been working hard on EFI projects and is making parts to help with conversion so he's an excellent resource. Jerry at SDConcepts.com also has some nice parts. And dotymi.com has some pulleys and sensor mounts. All the parts are out there, you just need to close your eyes, hold your breath and make the leap!

I'd bolt a different Carb on it long before I attempted that switch. We have 1 person in D6 with Holley EFI on their 145mph SST car and he has told me it is a struggle to make it work.

Don't know what the EFI systems run $$ wise and don't care either way but do what you need to do AFTER you try the new and improved main body.........

Thanks everyone... Thanks for your advise and suggestions.. !!

There are many aspects of the EFI that I like and would love to incorporate into my car... but at this time, I will take the wisdom of those that have told me not to convert over.. at this time..

I will give the carb another shot and see if I can get it to work to where I'm happy with it...

Thanks again for answering questions and giving your insight

Ok - follow your gut instinct ... but check out this dyno run of the pump gas Hemi that I had MM finish up for me back in the spring: https://youtu.be/95gZTspdzsg
It starts right up, idles real nice and learned it's own tune over several dyno pulls. That's a dual throttle body FAST EZ-EFI 1.0 up on top. 888 HP @ 6300 RPM ... I just need to find the other 12 ponies so I can say I have a 900 HP street engine!

Motor sounds awesome... and whats 12 HP between friends.. You have a nice 900 HP motor

Send the carb to Dom at Thumper carbs Jeepmon. Do you go to Sac. or Sonoma? Do I know you?

Carb has worked fine when I'm there Just take that POS off and send it to me. Ill send you a Division winning one to replace it, was good enough to be in a ton of finals racing .90 should be good enough for you. Oh yeah loose the lexan scoop or start cleaning your air bleeds AT EVERY RACE!!! We live and race at places that are filled with dirt, it don't take much to clog a .029" hole...My guess is you already had someone try to make it better and they either lost the intermediate circuit or put a HUGE bleed in there. That aint the way to make it happy on the stop...

Oh yeah don't waste the time energy and money to go EFI, unless you just have to be different. If it was more consistent every bracket and class hitter in the country would run it. Also inline stops=crap for consistency especially for cars on the stop for a fair amount of time. Once again if it was the hot ticket Bogacki and every other racer in S/G, S/C and S/ST would have already done it.

But what do I know...

I have offered one up more than once....And if he was pout winning every round he would not be alone

Ya, do this and enjoy the blubbery ass 3-circuit crap that MOST don't need or even understand............Gimme a break..........Forest has a 2-circuit and runs a stop and did I mention he just won a wally..........

Dom and INLINE stop and a baseplate stop are TWO completely different things. Re read what I wrote...

Oh yeah I have a pile of Wallys too, but how was that possible with three circuit junk, that Bogacki guy does ok with his too since we are gimmmeing us a break

I'm no expert on any of the stops cos that's not my thing and makes no sense in my mind having a fast car and slowing it down but whatever werkz..............Even BLP likes 2-circuits fwiw up to 1200-1300 hp but I'm still learning everyday and will continue to till I croak.........

Thanks Al for you offer to borrow a carb.. Thanks Dom for your suggestions..

For now, I think I will stay with the stuff I got and see if I can make it work..

Anytime and if you post your tune maybe we can help ya out but like Al said, a clogged bleed or any vital passage as small as they are can end your day and have you chasing your tail.......

Didn't realize Jeepmon was Don! It all makes sense now...The "lexan scoop" thing gave you away Don.

Lexan scoops win races in my neck of the woods

in your neck of the woods you don't race at dusty facilities either. Unless you count Boise as High Desert dust..lol...