im thinking i want to put a carb on my LT1 insted of having fuel injection. is it a big deal to do this. will i have problems with the Distributor cuz of where it is. and will i have trouble getting power to it.

 

IMO, it's easier to find, install, and hook up a real LT1 induction/ignition system. Probably cheaper, too, if you look for the LT1 stuff in the right places.

 

Where is the best place to look/find these things.

 

craigslist, eBay, TGO classifieds are some good places to look.

 

www.camaroz28.com <--- you'll find an endless supply of LT1 stuff for sale here. Look in their classified section.

If you want a 4bbl intake for an LT1 engine, the only place I know of to get on is from GMPP.

 

I think you're going to lose a good bit of low end tq with a carb on there. You could also put the FI on much cheaper.

 

actually the gmpp carb intake is supposed to give a gain of up to 30tq over the stock setup due to the runner design.
http://store.summitracing.com/egnsea...5&autoview=sku
and it is a cheap setup if you already have a carb for it. new the manifold goes for 250 but i just picked one up used for 140shipped off one of the forums. plus it allows you to get rid of the opticrap ignition and you dont have to spend 600bux on a delteq system just run a good hei dizzy and you will have a solid ignition and intake setup without all the problems that come with injection.

 

Put a carb on and loose the biggest reason the LT1 is an LT1. You'll drop fuel milage, and again I wish people would quit calling the opti's crap, because they're not, it's actually a better setup than a standard HEI. Opti's have been turned over 7k rpms no problems. The induction and engine management are the two best reasons of having an LT1. If you're going to carb it, sell the motor to someone who will keep it like it's supposed to be run and just put a standard carbed 350 in it.

 

the biggest reasons an lt1 is an lt1 is the reverse cooling because of that it can run high compression, aggressive timing, and leaner fuel ratio which makes it good on gas and emissions. has almost nothing to do with the FI the reverse cooling allows for all that with any intake setup. the lt1 intake is just a tpi with the runners taken out. A properly tuned carb will only be a little less efficient than FI and will breath better than the stock intake ever could because of the front mount Throttle Body on the stock intake.

 

Whoa, there's a lot of misinformation and pejorative in that response. Calling the LT1 intake "TPI with the runners taken out" is like calling the SBC "a Ford with one more head bolt per cylinder".

Reverse cooling is a minor player in the power capability. Closed loop FI will always exceed open loop mechanical systems for driveability and economy.

Guess it depends on your use and goals. If you're so EFI-averse that you're willing to do this to a fine engine system, I agree with Klortho - sell it and build a Gen I SBC.

 

I dont think it would be worth all the work of pulling the engine, finding a new one, setting up heads, cam.

Think about what you could sell that motor for, and what it would cost to build another one. You could sell the LT1 intake, harness, ignition for probably close to 400 bucks. The whole engine might go for a thousand.

Im a little baffled by the LT1, the intake seems to be way too big and flows enough for 7k rpms, but the engine still makes great low end.

 

While I dont think that the opti is total garbage, I certainly wouldnt choose to use it if I didnt have to. HEIs have been delivering spark in the same range for a lot longer time. They also dont sit underneath a water pump that leaks, on the lower part of the engine that gets wet with water, oil, and everything else. Opti spark = good idea, bad implementation.

 

Biggest plus to the opti is the PCM doing all the work for the timing. The '92-94 opti's weren't the best, the '95s improved alot on the unit considerable.

But again, don't ruin a good engine putting outdated induction on it.

 

hrm guess everyones problem with carbing an lt1 is replacing the existing FI.
I carbed mine cause it was sold to me as a shortblock and it was the quickest and cheapest way for me to get it up and running. if it had come with everything needed to run it as is i doubt i would have carbed it.
I still think carb is gonna make more power though....lol sorry had to throw that in

 

it would not bother me a bit to see that lt1 with carb. That reverse cooling is reason enough for me to keep it and use it. Put an lt4 hotcam in it and have fun.

 

howd the ls work out? i am working out a ls7, carbed!, to t56. fi is great for what it is, a carb will out perform factory fi for my app, i would guess for yours also. i am most excited to use the ford dist, but that is just to match the 9" out back

would love to see some pics though

bill