klumb15

iTrader: (1)

I have a 350 TPI (1990)corvette motor with the aluminum heads...I'm debating if i should switch over to a carb or not, I'm kinda sick of FI having so much problems and you can't really do any major mods without extensive computer mods....I just want to know, IF i switched to a carb setup, with a good intake and a 600-650 cfm carb, will my HP increase or Decrease??? and how much would it change???

nsimmons

it'll go up a good 50hp, but your going to loose your low end torque, basically powers going to move up the rpm band

klumb15

iTrader: (1)

so ur saying, since I have 255 HP stock, then switch to a carb, mild cam, and good intake i'll be a little bit over 300 but i'm gonna loose that fun low end torque??? you guys know more about than I do, is it worth it???

nsimmons

Yup pretty much, then you install lower rear gears to make up the difference. Similar setup to mine. My car makes its power from 3500-5500, but i have 3.73's in the rear so it gets into its band very fast. Higher rpm power is much more fun. Plus the cars faster.

contactpatch

Switching to carb, allows you the freedom to choose
any intake you want.
All the power increase, will be in the form of much better
torque at the higher RPMs.
kl', what is your driving style?

vejatabul

my stock base stock runner and throttle body, stock head tpi setup made 356tq at 2000 rpm.i would gladly trade 50 tq for 50hp! how often are you racing, and your below 2500rpm?never! low rpm tq is good for trucks, not going fast. tpi<carb. HOWEVER my th350 3.27 geared gta gets 26mpg highway! my th 350 3.27 geared vortech head 284xe with a 650 dp got 18 mpg. both cars made the same tq.gta at 2000rpm, camaro at 3000rpm. and i gotta tell you...... the camaro was much funner to drive! even though it got abot 6mpg on the street.

klumb15

iTrader: (1)

so it sounds like its worth switching to a carb...I want to get a 6 speed also, so the higher RPM's will be really fun with that trans...as far as driving style, its a daily driver, it does an occasional drag race, and unlike some others, i know how to control my foot....so i don't beat the **** out of it 24/7 like some of my buddy's do...

92RSSlowmaro

Don't forget your cam plays a large role in where your car makes power.

305sbc

iTrader: (3)

Much more power for WOT driving.

cgb

Come on...

You HONESTLY believe that switching a BONESTOCK L98 motor to a carb will gain 50HP?

IS the current TPI motor out of tune? Sensor problems? Running in limp home mode?

Sure, if you add say something like a Performer RPM and a WELL TUNED 650cfm carb, you WILL gain a good bit of power in the HIGHER RPM ranges ( as mentioned ) but UNLESS something is wrong with the CURRENT setup it is NOT going to be 50 HP.

Notice, I didn't say, cam, headers, I said carb and intake only. 50 HP is just not gonna happen over a PROPERLY functioning TPI system.

Now down to brass tacks.

Back in the early 90's A guy I knew bought a IROC....it was either an '89 or '90...bonestock, used car, low miles, 350 TPI and auto. It ran fine.....like it was designed to.... he was convinced by a local "mechanic" that an alum intake and a Holley carb would really wake the thing up.....so he swapped.

OF course, after lots of trouble he realized he needed to replace the distributor with a non computer controlled part....then he realized that carbs don't automatically adjust themselves, and pulling carbs apart repeatedly w/o tearing gaskets ( chapstick comes in handy here ) can get pricey...not to mention time consuming and messy.

After was all said and done, he finally got it running "better than it ever had".....and it ran a tenth slower ( more than a few runs that was the FASTEST run ) at the the track than it had bonestock.


Of course, just my humble opinion...

nsimmons

More ignorance from ignorant people.

The car will not gain a peak of 50hp more over the stock 250. What it will gain is an increase of 50 hp in the upper rpms, over what it has now.

ie
5000rpm=200hp->250hp

Quick example of what proper air flow does to a l98 engine,do a search for the stealth ram and notice how the car picked up 60+ hp in the upper rpms.

With respect your friend was an idiot. Who has to tear apart a carb multiple times wrecking gaskets to make it run properly.

We are not talking about the problems people with lack of experience face, we're talking about what proper air flow does.

This pretty much sums it up
"then he realized that carbs don't automatically adjust themselves,"

He didnt know that and he swapped anyway? You do see why your argument falls apart right there dont you?

Now for actual experience. Im running the exact same engine combo under a carb now that i ran under an injected setup a few years ago. This carbed setup would kick the snot out of the fuelie version. Particularly because it can breathe after 4500rpm. It pulls hard to 5500 now were as the injected version was done at 4500, albeit there was more low end.