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Topic: upgrade carbs (Read 2643 times) previous topic - next topic

upgrade carbs

i was looking at my stock carb yesterday and i wondered why havent i changed this? what kinda carb would i put on a 3.8L and what kinda hp would the engine be turnin with it? i was thinking an edelbrock 500cfi?? anyone out there got good results from a specific one tell me ;)

Re: upgrade carbs

Reply #1 –
You don't have a carburetor, you have CFI.  A 500 CFM carb would be a decent size for the engine, if you decide to convert, which involves changing the fuel system around somwehat.

Re: upgrade carbs

Reply #2 –
aren't the 87 up sefi ??

Re: upgrade carbs

Reply #3 –
Nope 88 was the first year for the 3.8L  SEFI (US and Canada).  It is likley a CFI, however (give him the benifit of the doubt) some 1987 3.8L cars were carbed in Canada.

Re: upgrade carbs

Reply #4 –
The 2150v from Motorcraft is good if you don´t find another. Good for off road, too....
1985 Mercury Cougar V6
1989 F-200 V8
1996 Explorer V6
2001 F-150

Re: upgrade carbs

Reply #5 –
well if you have CFI, that's practically the only way you're going to tune any hp out of that motor. morana racing sells a 4bbl intake that you will need to buy. along with what Ifixyawata said about the fuel system. not sure how it will perform though. i was gonna do the same thing to my 85 Mustang w/ 3.8 CFI... but the engine died and i sold it (big mistake) before i ever got the chance.
2005 Subaru WRX STi|daily driver

Re: upgrade carbs

Reply #6 –
you dont NEED a 4bbl, you can use the stock intake manifold with a ford 2bbl carb very easily
It's Gumby's fault.

Re: upgrade carbs

Reply #7 –
i am certain this thing is carburated guys i have taken of the air filter cover plenty of times its defenitly carburated. so anyway 500 would be a good start?nooooooo canadian car :canada:

Re: upgrade carbs

Reply #8 –
LOL Reminds me of the first fox body I had, and 85 bird. My mom's husband was over there when I was working on it and I was bitching about it being fuel injected so he starts arguing with me that it wasn't, it had a carb on it. ignorant a..15 years later, still trying to figure out what those two big thingies were on that carb.

Re: upgrade carbs

Reply #9 –
I have an '83 T-Bird with a 3.8L.  I ran (1/4 mi drags) with both a stock 1.08 Motorcraft 2BBL and a 500CFM Holley 2BBL.  The rest of the motor is per factory.  Holley helped to the tune of .7 seconds in the 1/4 mi.  I do believe the 500 Holley would be bad for milage, but Holley makes a 350CFM  2BBL also.  '84 up engines used a better (flows more) intake than a true carbed ('82/'83) 3.8L.  I not sure about Canadian engines.  Dollar for dollar put a V8 in it!  My 'Bird is strickly a drag car but still only goes low 16's in the 1/4 @ 3100#.  P.S.  There are larger 2100 series Motocraft 2BBL carbs in wrecking yards that will work.  Look for 1.12, 1.14, 1.23 on the side of the floatbowl and rejet as necessary. If you are using an AOD trans you will have to adapt a t/v linkage!  Good Luck,  Fred

Re: upgrade carbs

Reply #10 –
Quote from: 87kid
i am certain this thing is carburated guys i have taken of the air filter cover plenty of times its defenitly carburated. so anyway 500 would be a good start?nooooooo canadian car :canada:

im not questioning your knowledge, but its very easy to mix up the carb/CFI argument

does it have 2 big injectors at the top, or a "butterfly" for the choke up top?
It's Gumby's fault.

Re: upgrade carbs

Reply #11 –
Quote from: phyxius
aren't the 87 up sefi ??

nope nope nope :D 

the 87 6 pot was cfi
the 88 was not sefi,, but batch or bank fire
sefi started in 89 for the 6

Re: upgrade carbs

Reply #12 –
Quote from: merccougar50
Nope 88 was the first year for the 3.8L  SEFI (US and Canada).  It is likley a CFI, however (give him the benifit of the doubt) some 1987 3.8L cars were carbed in Canada.


sorry guys,, having too much fun spreading the word on this one,,, :D

the 88 was batch fire.

and by the way,, exactly what shawn said,, whats on top.  round air cleaner indicates your half way there,, lets see a pic of the american made carb 6 cyl.  Its possible it could be an illeagal alien that crossed the boarder also :giggle: ,,hmm carb is still possible.
 :ttiwwp: