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Topic: Carburating '88 T-Bird LX (Read 3670 times) previous topic - next topic

Carburating '88 T-Bird LX

I have a '88 T-Bird LX and would like to carburate it. I'm in the process of rebuilding the AOD transmission. I have a extra 5.0 motor I am going to build to put in it but would like to carburate it. How difficult would it be???

Re: Carburating '88 T-Bird LX

Reply #2 –
firstly-not too hard, ive seen it done. maybe you can hel;p me tho-do you have any ectra 5.0 egine mounts? do pm me if you do

Re: Carburating '88 T-Bird LX

Reply #4 –
What is the advantage of carbing an efi motor? Just curious. It doesn't make sense to me, but then again I don't know much about motors.

Re: Carburating '88 T-Bird LX

Reply #5 –
for one lowcat, you dont have to deal with the computer.... 2 you have a MUCH CLEANER look under the hood.... and three its a heck of alot cheaper

Re: Carburating '88 T-Bird LX

Reply #6 –
Thanks. I'll let you know how it does.

Re: Carburating '88 T-Bird LX

Reply #7 –
I"m going to carb my '85... but it's CFI so it sucks already.  So it should definitely be an improvement.

Re: Carburating '88 T-Bird LX

Reply #8 –
I don't understand why somebody would want to take fuel injection off and put a carb on (barring an all out raecar) fuel mileage goes down maintenance goes up engine life goes down. fuel injection cranks every time (unless sometins brok) runs better. no way id ever go back to a carb on a street car

Re: Carburating '88 T-Bird LX

Reply #9 –
Have you ever had a CFI car?  If you had driven a CFI car you would understand why a carb is one better option to CFI.

Re: Carburating '88 T-Bird LX

Reply #10 –
Quote from: Ifixyawata
Have you ever had a CFI car?  If you had driven a CFI car you would understand why a carb is one better option to CFI.


you tell him , those cars are butt freak'n slow! just think, if you took out all the efi stuff you wouldnt have to deal with the computer when swapping from SO to HO or $200- $400 injectors , in the long run a carb is better all the way except the times when you get flooded  :2gunsfiri

Re: Carburating '88 T-Bird LX

Reply #11 –
I am also going carbed.  I have several reason why.  First my motor is from an 84 Crown Vic.....hell to wire to a fox Cougar.

Second, a 347 stroker motor + CFI = one angry Cougar.  Along with this, a .515/.523 lift cam would not work with a CFI.  And my new heads wouldn't do much to better these problems.....sooo carb = good stuff.

Third, 3 wires....can't beat that.  Plus clean looks cuz of only 3 wires needed.  Ok so not just 3 wires....but it only needs B+, Ground, and Ignition.

Fourth, carbs make more power than fuel injection....at this point.....on a pushrod 5.0.....err...stroker.....EFI intakes are too restrictive, the computers are...let's face it....old, and EFI is designed to run clean...therefore power suffers...a lot.

Fifth, cheap....in order to use different heads, a radical cam, and a stroker block, you need to spend some serious money for electronics.  Upwards of $2,000 for a good intake, mass air wire harness, correctly calibrated computer, larger injectors to handle the added air flow causing you to buy that customly calibrated computer, and other miscellaneous items.  So I feel that 800 for good intake, carb, and ignition system is worth it.

Sixth, going to my school....I need to have a car that stands out...a carbed, 347, 1984, orange, drifting Cougar is just what I need to stand out.  Plus the bragging rights to beating all of the $30,000 new cars these spoiled s are driving around in is always nice.

And finally....you cannot make an EFI car idle at 500 rpm...just by drilling a hole.  Oh yeah you can reprogram the computer to idle that low...but will it run?  No...the computer will not like it and will adjust accordingly.

So basically...carb for 500 rpm, radical cammed, stroker, cheap, fast....Cougar.  Ok ok 500 rpm is not good for street use...but admit it....its  impressive and will definently give the Cougar a growl as big as its body.  :evilgrin:

Re: Carburating '88 T-Bird LX

Reply #12 –
I don't know I couldn't stand my q-jet 750 on my Oldsmobile.  EFI is straightforward on a 5.0 and its not what really clutters up the underhood are IMHO.  It's those huge A/C lines runnin accrooss the top of the intake.  Took my A/c out last month, much better now :grinno:
-- 05 Mustang GT-Whipplecharged !!
--87 5.0 Trick Flow Heads & Intake - Custom Cam - Many other goodies...3100Lbs...Low12's!

Re: Carburating '88 T-Bird LX

Reply #13 –
I am sorry if I was misunderstood iwas speaking of sefi not cfi.  And yes if you are building a stroker motor and you want the most hp for $ you can squeeze a little more out of a carb. however efi has better torque (which is what maakes it feel good on the street) I am not going to get into the efi vs carb horspower argument but over the last few years mm&ff hasdone several comparisons and for the street the efi kicks a carbs a**. I am not saying efi is for everybody just saying its got its merits and for a mildy modified car it may not be as expensive as you think.

Re: Carburating '88 T-Bird LX

Reply #14 –
What are you building the car for?  If it's for street I'd stay with the EFI (as long as it's not CFI).
I've run all three, carb, CFI and SEFI and I would not go back to a carb, even for a performance set-up these days.  The added benefit with EFI, the car runs pretty much the same no matter the weather or location.  No fiddle-****ing around with jetting and tweaking other things just so the car will run right when the weather changes.  Just slapping on a carb is no guarantee for increased power.

I'm trying to talk my buddy into an EFI swap on his '84 Mustang.  He has some forced induction future plans, and tuning with the proper electronics is just so much better with EFI.

If the EFI works, leave it and invest in some sort of tuner or electronics to make changes if you need them.  Unless you're getting radical though, they probably won't be needed.
Long live the 4-eyes!  - '83 Tbird Turbo - '85 Marquis LTS - '86 LTD Wagon